This a film where I recognize its flaws--it's cinematic cotton candy with no real point beyond filling its running time with as many laughs, tears, and pop culture references as possible--but I still love it. It's definitely a feel-great experience, especially for those already inclined to enjoy Richard Curtis' breezy films and/or equipped with a love of '60s popular music--The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and many others feature prominently. The cast are clearly having a ball and have dynamite chemistry. Of the more recognizable faces, I enjoyed Rhys Ifans and Kenneth Branagh the most. Ifans is a hoot as an oversexed superstar DJ with Jagger-caliber swagger. And Branagh is deliciously nasty and uptight as a British politician desperate to put the pirate radio stations out of business. The real star of the movie, however, is Tom Sturridge, though you would never know it from the advertisements. He plays a troubled teen sent by his mother to live on the pirate radio ship, which is owned and operated by his free-spirited godfather (played by Bill Nighy, as charming and oh-so British as ever). Sturridge delivers a very solid, easy-to-relate-to performance; he doesn't steal scenes from his colorful co-stars, but it's not his job to, is it?

Overall, this is a quality popcorn movie of the highest order. Don't expect a great deal of depth, but plenty of easy entertainment.

Oh, and watch the first half of the end credits, especially if you're a hardcore music fan. They show several album covers, tracing the last 40+ years of music history. I noticed a lot of my favorites--Blur's Parklife, Keane's Hopes and Fears, Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Pulp's Different Class, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, etc. Nice!

A-

BJs Grade:

B+

Highlarious.

2/10 -> F

Oh my. What a boring movie. And how unfunny.

B


Given its cast and its director I found it to be somewhat disappointing. I love Love Actually and seeing as this was another Britsh flick from the same director and with a large top-notch cast, I had my hopes up. Now it doesn't really come close to Love Actually, but it is entertaining and fun on its own.

Now keep in mind that I have only seen the original (longer) version and not the US Pirate Radio cut. While the film did drag a few times, I still can't think of where I would cut 20 minutes from it. What I would have changed is probably the ending because once their boat starts sinking the film becomes more serious than it ever seemed to be and that is quite a break from the film's otherwise anarchistic and carefree nature.

Moreover, the cast is splendid, but I don't think they did enough with it. Bill Nighy is top notch, as usual and Philip Seymour Hoffman stands out here as well. Nick Frost, Emma Thompson, Gemma Arterton and January Jones don't really manage to leave much of an impression, though due to their underwritten and/or brief parts. Given such huge amount of talent it is actually quite a missed opportunity. Curtis was able to handle a large cast very well in Love Actually and never went overboard with the film's running time. This time the film is even longer, but it still doesn't seem enough to let the potential of this cast ensemble truly develop.

So what remains is a decent comedy that doesn't score any belly laughs, but is nevertheless amusing throughout and contains some wonderful music to boot.