The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Director: Richard Curtis
Writer: Richard Curtis
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge, Rhys Darby
Language: English
Runtime: 130 Minutes approx.
Age Rating: 15
Genre: Comedy, Music, Drama
Reviewed by Ross Miller
Writer/director Richard Curtis has cemented himself into the romantic comedy genre with such hits as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually, some of the most popular British films of the type of this modern era. But with The Boat That Rocked he has tried something different; although still serviceable as a movie to sit down and enjoy like any other, this is more like the movie equivalent of a fun party than a straight movie.
In the United Kingdom in the 1960s there was only a couple of hours a week of rock and pop music played, much to the dismay of listeners nationwide. However a band of DJs set up ship in the North Sea and broadcast what was known as "pirate radio," which played rock and pop music 24 hours a day to a listenership of half the country's population. The film is an ensemble comedy that celebrates the music of the '60s era, and tells the story of how this group of DJs try to stay on the air as the Government relentlessly try to find a way to shut them down.
Since the '60s rock 'n' roll showcased oh so proudly within the film is played in pretty much every scene in one form or another, it may help if you are a fan of it. If you're musical taste doesn't match up with the likes of The Kinks, The Beach Boys and The Who, then you might not get the intended enjoyment out of it. However, for anyone who would cite this type of music as their "cup of tea," then The Boat That Rocked should be enjoyable. It was for me, for sure.
Although it may only be loosely based on a real-life idea, one which is just laid out flat to expand on by Curtis and everyone else, having it based on that real life story gives it that little extra bit of weight that it otherwise would have had. Curtis populates the story, and the titular boat, with just about the most eclectic group of people you're ever likely to come across. The cast ranges from Bill Nighy (as fun to watch as ever), Philip Seymour Hoffman (showing he's not afraid to relax back into a more comedic role than usual), and Kenneth Branagh (a love-to-hate character who is adamant about shutting the musical ship down), to Nick Frost (the slightly despicable but nonetheless loveable guy), Flight of the Conchord's Rhys Darby (who it's great to see getting the recognition he deserves - he's a highlight of the film here) and Rhys Ifans (charismatic and likeable, as always).
From the very moment we see this band of DJs together, exchanging genuinely funny dialogue and playing what are now classic records, it is clear all involved are having a hell of a lot of fun. And that type of thing always comes across to the viewer; if the cast and crew had a good time making the movie, it naturally gets portrayed on-screen and it rubs off on the audience. Although there's a sense that this is more like recreating a past era than actually embodying it - something about the eccentric, colourful outfits and the surroundings sets make it feel like it's trying a bit too hard - it's still, nonetheless, a fun time at the movies.
Where The Boat That Rocked makes a wrong turn, however, is when it tries to run with this vein of seriousness that is placed in there from the very beginning. One of the main characters Carl, the youngest of the group (played by Tom Sturridge), has been sent to the boat by his mother because of his unruly behaviour at school, and the question of who his father is is brought up. It's just one example of a few things that are introduced and run with in the film that feel unnecessary and tacked on. When the film concentrates on being laid back, relaxed and, most of all, fun, it's highly enjoyable, but the attempts at a tackling serious issues drag it down quite a lot, sadly.
So because of a few attempts at seriousness, one particularly towards the end of the film that comes out of completely left field and is very jarring indeed, stop The Boat That Rocked from being anything great. But there's enough fun times, rockin' times, in there that make for an enjoyable enough couple of hours. Curtis has a talent for this sort of light-hearted stuff, and The Boat That Rocked is just him showing that not every movie he makes has to be all about the romance.
