--- title: "Son of Rambow: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/son-of-rambow/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/son-of-rambow" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Son of Rambow (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 13 reviews: 7 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics come away fond of Son of Rambow, and the fondness gathers around the two boys. Bill Milner and Will Poulter are praised repeatedly for unforced, unselfconscious performances, and the slow growth of their friendship is what the warmer reviews hold onto. The scenes of the pair shooting their homemade Rambo sequel, cardboard effects and all, draw the most consistent delight, and several reviews enjoy the 1980s detail as affectionate rather than fussy. The reservations are about the storytelling. Several critics find the film loses its grip midway, that the later plot turns arrive in a rush, and that the sentiment becomes routine where it had been sincere. The spread is wide. The Hollywood Reporter calls the film poorly made and incoherent, the Los Angeles Times finds it stylish but shallow and never curious about the Rambo idea at its centre, and Digital Spy says tonal clashes waste a strong premise. Even those dissenters concede the boys’ filmmaking scenes are funny. ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2007. Goodridge gives the film a strongly positive verdict, praising its nostalgic portrait of the 1980s and celebration of children’s creativity. He especially singles out the delightfully un-self-conscious performances by Bill Milner and Will Poulter. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/son-of-rambow/4030435.article) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 March 2008. Jolin finds the film deeply effective and surprisingly touching, despite a lapse in storytelling discipline midway through. He especially praises the naturalistic performances and the gradually unfolding friendship between the boys. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/son-rambow-review/) ## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael Rating 4/5. Papamichael gives the film a warm, positive review. She praises Bill Milner’s charming performance as a shy boy drawn into making a Rambo-inspired home movie. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-dwbgb4/son-of-rambow/) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2008. Kermode finds the film a joyful, winning grown-up kids’ movie. He praises the innocent energy of the young leads and their homemade special effects. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/03/dvdreviews1) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 4 April 2008. The critic finds the film imperfect but irresistibly charming, heartfelt and consistently engaging. They praise its naturalistic period detail and the way its imaginative flights are grounded in friendship and emotion. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/son-of-rambow-review/) ## IndieWire — Michael Koresky Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2008. Koresky finds the film playful and charming, though overly polished and uneven in its period details. He especially praises the boys’ performances and the emotionally effective closing moment. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-lets-go-to-the-videotape-garth-jenningss-son-of-rambow-72495/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2.5/4. 16 April 2008. Schager finds the film charming and emotionally sincere at first, but says routine sentimentality weakens it. He praises the leads’ guileless dynamic and the joy and inventiveness of their homemade movie. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/son-of-rambow/) ## Variety — Robert Koehler Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2007. Festival review. Koehler finds the film a modestly eccentric, sweetly raucous entertainment whose late plot turns feel rushed. He praises the engaging performances of Bill Milner and Will Poulter, which preserve the film’s early charm. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/son-of-rambow-1200510870/) ## Los Angeles Times — Carina Chocano Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2008. Chocano finds the film stylish and sweetly nostalgic, but ultimately lacking in depth or momentum. She praises its visual style while faulting its failure to explore the ideas behind its Rambo inspiration. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-02-et-son2-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2007. Festival review. Byrge finds the film poorly made and incoherent, despite ingredients that might attract children. He acknowledges some hilarious slapstick but faults the story for lacking a clear goal and cohesion. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/son-rambow-159361/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2007. The critic finds this a delightful, emotionally resonant comedy, likely to be a box-office success. She singles out the script’s humor and emotional weight for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/son-of-rambow-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Paste — Robert Davis Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 April 2008. The critic finds the film a rewarding, warm-hearted story about friendship. They praise how Jennings uses the boys’ homemade Rambo sequel as a springboard for their adventures and camaraderie. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/son-of-rambow/son-of-rambow) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2008. The critic finds the film uneven and says its tonal clashes squander a strong premise. The children’s guerrilla filmmaking scenes earn praise for their humor and imaginative energy. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a92668/son-of-rambow/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/son-of-rambow.md