Son of Rambow.

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 96 minutes

Genre: Indie, Comedy

I wasn’t quite sure what to think about this movie when I put it in my queue. Well, I’m glad I did because this turned out to be one of the most heartwarming movies I’ve seen in a long time. And it’s hilarious to boot!

Will, a highly imaginative young boy, is the center of the film. He belongs to a strict religion that does not allow him to watch TV. Instead, he thinks up wild stories and draws them. Will, despite his religion, attends a public school, but is not supposed to make friends with any of the other children. One day, while in the hall while his classmates watch a film, he meets fellow student and troublemaker Lee. Lee tricks Will into being a stuntman in a film he is making for a contest. When Will is at Lee’s house, he accidentally sees Rambo: First Blood. The movie takes over his imagination, and while filming Lee’s movie, acts out his idea and he becomes the son of Rambo.

So I thought this would be one of those films about two boys “from different sides of the tracks” who become unlikely friends. However, that’s not what it is at all; it’s so much more than that. Sure, it’s a story about friendship, but it makes you feel like a kid again. As I watched this film, it brought me back to the games I played then and how fun I thought they were. The comedy in this movie might be a little juvenile for some, but if you can connect back with your childhood, you will understand the comedy in the film. One of my favorite funny moments was when the French boy Didier stepped off of the bus.

This movie just isn’t comedy, though. It’s a truly touching film. And yeah, my eyes got a little watery. So?

I was surprised to hear that Son of Rambow received a PG-13 rating for “some violence and reckless behavior.” However, ignore the PG-13 rating and watch it with your kids; this would be a great film for a family movie night.

Netflix Page for Son of Rambow