Watch Son of Rambow

In 2007, the movie Son of Rambow was released featuring the heartwarming and comical tale of two young boys who come from very different backgrounds yet strengthen their friendship over a shared love for creating a homemade film. The story is set in England during the 1980s and begins with Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner), a shy and introverted schoolboy who is raised as a member of strict religious community, the Plymouth Brethren. Unbeknownst to his family, Will has a fascination with films, despite being prohibited to watch them. One day, a new kid arrives at school named Lee Carter (Will Poulter), who couldn't be more different from Will. Lee is a troublemaker who constantly gets into mischief and is a bit of a bully at school. During class one day, Will's imagination is captured by a French foreign film that he sneaks a glimpse of through a classroom window. Lee notices this, and sees an opportunity to use Will's desire to create a movie for his own gain. The two boys quickly become friends despite their differences.

Lee invites Will over to his house to watch stolen VHS tapes of popular films, including Sylvester Stallone's First Blood. This prompts Lee to suggest they make a sequel to the movie, where Will would play the son of Rambo. Will hesitantly agrees, and from there the two embark on their movie-making journey. They use their surroundings to create their own props, costumes, and even get their classmates and teachers involved in the production. Will comes out of his shell and becomes more confident, while Lee learns to take responsibility and be a good friend.

The boys' amateur movie-making encounters difficulties - especially since they lack a camera - but they persist in their goal to finish the film. Will's mother (Jessica Hynes) eventually discovers what he is up to, and forbids him from any further involvement with the project. This leads to a rift in the boys' friendship, but ultimately, Will realizes that the most important thing is staying true to oneself and his own passion. He reunites with Lee, and the two work together to complete their masterpiece.

The movie is a beautiful ode to childhood friendships and the power of creativity. Its depiction of two children's desire to escape from their own reality and create their own through film is an inspiring and relatable tale. The cast put in strong performances, especially Bill Milner and Will Poulter who both showed why they would go on to have successful careers in the industry. The chemistry between the two actors is a joy to watch, and they each bring their own unique take to their characters.

The cinematography in the movie is a standout, the filmmakers do an excellent job of capturing the beautiful English countryside, which acts as the backdrop for the boys' creations. The film’s director, Garth Jennings, does an exceptional job of balancing the comedy and drama elements of the story - resulting in a movie that is both entertaining and heartfelt.

Overall, Son of Rambow is a must-watch movie for anyone who loves films and values storytelling. Its focus on youthful imagination and cross-cultural relationships offers an evergreen story whose message won't tire anytime soon. Additionally, dedicated fans of Sylvester Stallones' First Blood will appreciate the various homages paid in Son of Rambow - although the film does well as its own story without any prior knowledge of its predecessor.

Son of Rambow is a 2007 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 66.