Sundance. Son of Rambow.

"Pairing very Britishly dry humor with a light-hearted exuberance, Son of Rambow [site] takes what could've been a gimmicky premise and turns it into a highly original comic adventure tale," writes Annie Frisbee at Zoom In Online. The film "aspires to be a lot more than just another Rushmore, and it achieves it in spades."

"After a week of high-power documentaries and wrenching dramas at Sundance, there's a strong chance I may have been extra-susceptible to the charm and sheer exuberance of Son of Rambow, the newest film from director Garth Jennings and the production team known as Hammer and Tongs," writes Cinematical's James Rocchi. "But I don't think so; the giddy, goofy and heartfelt creativity of Son of Rambow would stand out regardless of where, or when, one had the good fortune to see it."

"[F]uckin' great," exclaims Quint at AICN: "It's a comedy, absurd at times, it's a fantasy, it's a family drama, it's a coming of age story and it's also a love letter to watching and participating in the making of movies."

Variety: "A bidding war for British coming-of-age pic Son of Rambow broke out Monday night and lasted into dawn Tuesday before Paramount Vantage walked away with all worldwide rights for a reported $8 million."

Updates, 1/25: Mike D'Angelo at ScreenGrab: "Son of Rambow lacks the melancholy undercurrent that made Wes Anderson's film something truly special, but it definitely brings the funny."

Ben Walters for Time Out: "[A]n absolute treat, a schoolboy yarn with a bracing emotional honesty that packs a real kick."

Update, 1/26: Acquired by Paramount Vantage for over $7 million. (Variety).

Michael Lerman at indieWIRE: "[T]he perfect kids' film, capturing a fun, childlike and energetic spirit while simultaneously discussing issues of leadership, popularity and, to a surprising degree, religious choice."

Updates, 2/3: Alison Willmore at the IFC Blog: "Thick with whimsical visual gags (Rushmore cut a bit of a swath through Sundance 2007), 80s references and well-placed pathos, Son of Rambow works because of its leads: [Bill] Milner is wide-eyed and utterly without guile, while [Will] Poulter is not unlike Benny Hill squashed into the body of a ten-year-old. Neither panders for the sake of cuteness; both approach their roles with a certitude that's a reminder that even in the depths of childhood, you never think of yourself as a child."

Via Brendon Connelly, Coming Soon's "nice, long interview" with Hammer and Tongs.

Coverage of the coverage: The Park City Index.

Posted by dwhudson at January 24, 2007 2:16 PM