Son of Rambow: The Action of A Bike Scene
With a goofy name like Son of Rambow, I didn't expect much from this movie. In fact, the only reason I even got pulled into Son of Rambow at all was because at 37,000 feet over the Atlantic, without an interesting book, you either watch what they're showing on the 4*6 cube less than 16 inches from your face, or you turn off the screen and try to fool yourself into thinking it's much later than it actually is, and close your eyes under the false illusion that you'll be able to sleep over the sound of the wailing infant just three rows behind you.
However, Son of Rambow was a highly pleasant surprise. Lacking the silliness of The Sandlot (an awesome movie, by the way), but in the same genre of tales of childhood friendship, this film delves into issues most younger boys face (feelings of loss, being shunned by your peers, feeling generally awkward) and does so in a way that is both engaging and entertaining.
I would call it a coming of age movie, except that I strongly dislike that description for movies because it's overused (ANY movie - about humans - can technically be described as a coming of age tale), and it's a feeble attempt by movie reviewers to pas off their review as worthy of a paycheck. But I digress...
Son of Rambow lets you get into the reality of an unlikely friendship between two young boys, which begins in the way most friendships between boys begin: one beats the other one up. They find they have a common interest in making movies, and they want to make an action movie, a short film, that they can submit to a contest being sponsored by the BBC.
Sometimes, it turns out, showing an exaggerated reality in a tasteful and well-crafted way can be funny and enlightening, while still being full of the common truths that make us all human.
As such, I think reality TV, which I detest as a genre, could learn a thing or two from this film.
I'm pleased to have caught Son of Rambow, and really would recommend it to anyone, regardless of whether you're sitting in your favorite viewing chair in the comfort of your own home, or if (as I was) you're attempting to lull yourself to sleep using the mantra "jet engines must be louder than babies screaming... jet engines must be louder than babies screaming... jet engines must be louder than babies screaming..."
Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.
I discovered that apparently (after doing a little research on this film), the Son of Rambow bike scene has gotten some attention in the blogging community... I must have nodded off for just a few seconds, or just gotten distracted by the food service (or the screaming baby) because I missed that part of the movie... guess I might have to see it again.)
And, if you like to spoil a movie before you watch it, here's the trailer for Son of Rambow