Flick of The Day: Submarine

Director Richard Ayoade makes his feature début with today's flick of the day, Submarine. Ayoade is perhaps best known for his starring role in The IT Crowd. It is a delight to report that he is a far better director then an actor. His debut shows a lightness of touch and a style all of its own with hints of early Wes Anderson.

Submarine is a journey into the mind of 15 year old Swansea teenager Oliver Tate who despite a winning smile and a smart mind with a keen interest in literature, is shocked to find out that he is not the most popular guy in school. The film is told in three parts with an epilogue and a prologue, very much in the style of the novel upon which it is based, a 2008 work of the same name by Joe Dunthorne. Like all teenagers, Oliver is secretive and self aware. He spies on his parents and matter of factly informs the audience that his parents haven't had sex in 7 months. His parents, wonderfully played by Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor are going to a rough patch. His father, a marine biologist is permanently depressed and his mother dissatisfied. Entering into this equation is the ever brilliant Paddy Considine. He was Hawkins first love and is now back in town as a new age self help guru who un-ironically spouts banalities about light and colours being the most important thing in the universe. Oliver has two main goals from then on, to stop his mother from having an affair with Considine and to convince his new girlfriend, Jordana Bevan to sleep with him. Jordana is played by Yasmin Paige who is a real find. She lights up the screen with a wicked intensity.

The Wes Anderson comparisons are not without foundation, there is a similarity of visual style but also a warm heart at the centre of all of the comedy. There is obvious love for all of the characters and nobody gets hurt too badly in all the romantic interludes. The film is very funny with some great one liners. As Jordana arrives at Oliver's house for their first encounter, she opens with the deadpan line:

"Thanks for living up a hill"

Possessed of a great ending and a fitting soundtrack, this film is well worth seeking out and marks Richard Ayoade as a talent for the future. I look forward to his next film.