As he marks his transition from actor to director, Richard Ayoade provides both a unique and unusually self-assured debut and gives new life into a dying genre with his coming-of-age romantic tale, Submarine.
Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) envisions himself in a life larger than his own. He likes to dream of a life where he is a character in a soap opera or the subject of a documentary. He believes that he can inspire others despite being rejected by majority of his peers. Oliver is romantic and an optimist, and he sets for himself two goals before his next birthday.
As Oliver remains 15, he wants to lose his virginity to Jordana Beven (Yasmin Paige), his fellow classmate who he believes is both near perfection and his soul mate.
Among this, Oliver also wishes to save his parents’ marriage. His parents' relationship has begun to sour thanks to his father Lloyd's (Noah Taylor) ever more distant persona and his mother Jill's (Sally Hawkins) fascination with their new neighbor, Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine), a flamboyant performance guru.
As Oliver begins to form a relationship with his crush Jordana, his parent’s relationship continues to diminish.
Within each of his growing and distancing relationships, Oliver learns more about what matters the most to him in the world and breaks from his enclosed self-obsessions.
Having grown a cult following for his work on television shows such as The IT Crowd and The Mighty Boosh, British actor Ayoade's offbeat but ultimately charming little film is rooted heavily in inspiration from filmmakers such as Wes Anderson, Woody Allen and others.
With a protagonist who resembles Holden Caulfield combined with Allen’s intellect and the looks and spirit of a young John Lennon, his film can be considered similar to romantic comedies such as Rushmore, Annie Hall, and (500) Days of Summer.
But with Submarine’s familiar background also lies a film that feels vigorous, lively, and — despite its abnormalities — quite honest and real.
This is very much thanks to its incredible script, written by Ayoade, based on the book by Joe Dunthorne.
Each primary character is richly developed throughout the film with a pace that comes naturally. Additionally, Submarine displays many hilarious dry moments during Oliver’s personal development.
As hilarious and honest as his script is, it is not without Ayoade's acute and confident directorial style that the film is as realized as it turns out to be.
Despite being his first feature, Ayoade displays more talent and virtuosity than many filmmakers gain in their careers.
Because of his background in acting, he helps pull great performances from his talented cast. Newcomers Roberts and Paige turn in two charming and promising performances, and familiar faces Taylor, Hawkins and Considine solidify their strong reputations.
Although incredibly stylish, Ayoade’s style will seem at times too familiar to those who inspired him.
Though most characters are incredibly grounded, Graham seems too over-the-top to fit in with the rest. At his worst, he sticks out like a sour thumb and turns away from what great things are going on with the other characters. But Considence does turn in a great performance nonetheless.
Matchless, novel, and incredibly charming,Submarine is a lively and delightfully inspired debut that shows great potential from its freshman director.
