A lot of fun

Rating: 7/10 (27 March 2015)

The first time I saw this film I didn't like it. Supposedly a true story about a rebel rock radio station based on a ship, it seemed to have too much of that 'cool guys versus the establishment' cliché. Plus, I thought writer-director Richard Curtis had gone over the top with the feel-good vibe, like a hyperactive puppy. But on second viewing, I saw how much fun every single actor was having in their role. Working at a radio station on the boat looked like when you went to school camp - an exciting place where anything could happen. We see the place through the eyes of a newcomer - a young man who meets all the DJs, who range from nerdy weirdos to cuddly eccentrics to prickly bastards. All men except the lesbian cook. Interesting actors such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy and Rhys Darby attack their mad DJ roles with gusto. Special mention to Rhys Ifans, who chews up the screen as the enigmatic, inexplicable chick magnet DJ Gavin, who also has a funny rivalry with Hoffman's expansive Yank DJ character, The Count. Irish actor Chris O'Dowd plays himself, as usual, but as usual he is appealing. And you can't argue with the music. The sheer number of fantastic songs makes you realise how amazing the endless line of hits was in the 1960s. I love how the film also shows listeners all over the UK tuning in to Radio Caroline, and dancing along. It shows that the station wasn't just a hippie throwaway. It gave people joy and took them away from their sometimes dull lives. So just sit back and enjoy this weird, wonderful and very nutty film.