Will is a member of a religious cult called the Brethren, just as his mother and family are. In school he has to leave the classroom whenever they watch the TV or listen to music - something he uses to his advantage so he can further his drawings.

He loves to draw and has a fantastic imagination. Even his Bible is covered with doodles and coloured pictures. One day when sitting outside his class he meets Lee Turner, who has just been excluded from another classroom for throwing a tennis ball at his teacher.

After a scuffle between the two, caused by Lee - of course, the fishtank gets smashed and the two end up being sent to the headmistress. Will, being niave, is deceived by Lee who convinces him that he is going to be tortured. Lee offers to take the punishment in exchange for the watch Will is wearing.

Not happy with having scammed him out of his watch, Lee convinced him to give him a lift back to his home and to do the stunts for a film he is making. Feeling that he owes him, Will agrees to help and inadvertently watches his first film - Rambo: First Blood and turns his attention to making the film he dreams up "Son of Rambow".

Just writing enough to give you a brief overview of the storyline makes me realise just how much depth there was in this film. The trailor didn't do the film enough justice because, were it not for the lack of much else out, we wouldn't have given this one a chance.

The portrayal of 1980s high school life, the colourfulness of the characters and the contrast between that and the oppressive Brethren upbringing were stark.

The naivety of Will, was really funny at times and even the "devilish" Lee Carter clearly had his lighter side. It was clever how, even lesser characters had depth.

The performance by ex-Spaced actress Jessica Stevenson of a highly religious but caring mother, was so different from her role in Spaced that you could scarcely believe they were the same person.

Aside from the comedy, which was far from slapstick, there was a lot to like about this film. For me, it reminded me about how pointless legalism like that portrayed in the film has little to do with real faith and the real Jesus. This was probably not the intention of the film, but it was something that occured to me. It did remind me though of those who are quick to protest against things - for no specific reason.

This was a good film, one that I would recommend to anyone going to the cinema at the moment.

see also:
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, Bruce Almighty, Dinner for Shmucks, Land of the Lost

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photo © Paramount Vantage.