SUBMARINE – The Review

The story of a quirky loner coming of age and experiencing first love has been a staple of independent films for quite some time. The new film SUBMARINE directed by Richard Ayoade from the novel by Joe Dunthorne looks at this a new way by setting the story in Wales ( in what appears to be the 1980’s ) and has it’s hero dividing his attention between the pursuit of his new love and concern over his parent’s marriage.  This gives a fresh spin to some well trodden cinema territory.

 Oliver Tate ( Craig Roberts ) doesn’t seem to fit in at school. His supposed best pal delights in taunting him. He pines for the very cool Jordana Bevan ( Yasmin Paige ). He belongs to none of the popular groups, but daydreams that the entire school would be devastated by his death. Things are tense at home. He believes that his mother Jill ( Sally Hawkins ) is unhappy with his nerdy marine science researcher father Lloyd ( Noah Taylor ). The recent arrival of one of Jill’s former boyfriends, Graham ( Paddy Considine ) who is renting the house next door concerns Oliver more than Lloyd. Life gets much more interesting for Oliver when Jordana enlists him in a plot to make her former boyfriend jealous. When Oliver stands up to the bullying former beau and defends her, Jordana sees him in a different light. They become a couple although Jordana is still bit hesitant for such labels. Soon she opens up to him and tells him of her mother’s illness. Jordana wants Oliver to lend his support during her mom’s upcoming hospital stay, but he becomes more concerned about his mom’s attending the motivational speech given by Graham. He begins following the two and trying rouse Lloyd into action. Will Oliver’s mission to stop a potential affair derail his relationship with Jordana?

SUBMARINE offers some great dialogue and many delightfully kooky performances. Roberts is very effective as the hero who still screws things up like any kid. His concern and affection for his folks and his romantic longings are touching and endearing. Yasmin’s Jordana starts as a “too cool for school” hipster who slowly begins to thaw thanks to the sweetness of Oliver’s character. Unlike many of these ” young love ” stories, the adults are giving a chance to shine.  Taylor makes Lloyd a lovable, socially awkward, brilliant doofus. Hawkins leaves her light-hearted roles to play a woman who is a bit unsatisfied and very conflicted. Considine walks a tightrope while playing a somewhat buffonish guy ( he sports a great spiked mullet while driving about in his Pink Floyd inspired van ) and still making him a bit sympathetic. Ayoade does indulge a bit with some fantasy sequences and camera tricks, but never lets the film veer off the central story. The 1980’s setting ( never stated but conveyed by the tiny TVs, VHS tapes, and audio cassettes ) never overpowers the characters. If you’re nostalgic to revisit those pangs of first love with a classmate, then SUBMARINE is a sweet, quirky trip .

Overall Rating: Four Out of Five Stars