Submarine – review

Film of the Week

Submarine (15)

Directed by Richard Ayoade

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, Noah Taylor, Gemma Chan, Yasmin Paige.

Running time: 97 minutes

Richard Ayoade’s movie directorial debut is a quaint story of growing-up, self-discovery and the joy and pitfalls of young love. As an actor and sitcom writer, Ayoade is a cult hero for his geek-style, oddball characters in eccentric comedies like The Mighty Boosh, Gareth Marenghi’s Darkplace and Nathan Barley, as well as the more mainstream hit sitcom The IT Crowd, so the tone of his first venture into film-making may come as surprise.

Although there are some brief moments of surreal and off-the-wall humour, the impact of Submarine is much more subtle. Set in Wales, the film’s focal point is 15-year-old school kid Oliver Tate [Craig Roberts] – who falls into the “inbetweener” bracket in the school social demographic – and he narrates the story with a diary-like honesty that is not dissimilar to Adrian Mole.

Oliver finds love in the form of the attractive, but mysterious Jordana [Yasmin Paige] and soon realises that relationships are not simple, especially when not armed with weapons like experience, hindsight and the knowledge of emotional responsibilities.

The problem with Oliver is that he spends as much time thinking about Jordana as he does obsessing about the potential affair that his mum, Jill [Sally Hawkins], might be having with bizarre life-coach Graham [Paddy Considine]. Meanwhile Jordana has her own family problems and suddenly Oliver has to face up to the possibility of the break-up of his own relationship, while at the same time try to keep his parents together.

Like other British comedic directors who have made a successful transition from TV to cinema, such as Edgar Wright and Chris Morris, Ayoade has found that perfect pitch of laugh-out-loud comedy and poignant depth. Submarine is engaging and funny throughout; the script crackling with energy and the acting as amusing as it is evocative.

Considine is fantastic as the charlatan motivational speaker, trying to re-ignite old flame Jill, as her more reclusive husband, Lloyd [Noah Taylor], seemingly accepts it in his lethargy and self-imposed ignorance. Roberts excels in the lead role, creating a convincing social-awkwardness and naivety at school, with Jordana and at home. The lion’s share of the laughs comes from Oliver’s voyeuristic tendencies in the midst of his parents’ marital difficulties.

This is British cinema at its quirky, heart-warming best and boosted by a moody soundtrack courtesy Alex Turner, Submarine is a must-see slice of nostalgia, anxiety and youthful life-lessons.

Submarine is now showing at the Rio Cinema until Thursday 31 March.

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Upcoming at the Rio…

Route Irish (15)

Directed by Ken Loach

Starring: Mark Womack, Andrea Lowe, John Bishop, Geoff Bell.

Running time: 109 mins

Route Irish is the latest film by well-respected British director Ken Loach and his regular collaborator, screenwriter Paul Laverty. Interspersing warzone action, complicated romance and complicity, it is a typically gritty concoction.

Starring TV drama regulars Andrea Lowe and Mark Womack, plus John Bishop – best known for his work as a stand-up comedian – this Liverpool-set picture tells the tale of an ex-soldier, Fergus [Womack], who is trying to add substance to his suspicions about the death of his friend Frankie [Bishop]. Frankie was tragically blown up in Baghdad’s notorious road of the film’s name and as Fergus’ suspicions intensify, dark truths are disclosed.

Amongst this story of corruption within the controversial war in Iraq, is the romantic entanglement of Fergus and Frankie’s girlfriend, Rachel [Lowe], and when the search for truth intensifies, emotions run high, as the heat is turned up to melting point.

Route Irish begins at the Rio Cinema on Friday 25 March – review next week.