A fun FICTIONAL movie about the sixties and not much else

Rating: 7/10 (12 July 2010)

While Pirate Radio calls itself 'based on a true story' the fact is that it is very loosely based on a host of Radio Stations that ran under the radar in the sixties and the film makers decided to make a fictional film around that concept so all the reviewers, professionally and otherwise, who cry historical inaccuracies really need to learn to enjoy their favourite medium a little more. Pirate Radio isn't trying to be the next Academy Award winning film (I hope) because in that vein it does not succeed. It is a light and fluffy film about that old saying 'Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll' and its meant to be fun, spirited and rebellious. All of that is firmly in check. Does it take it beyond that to really impress? No not really and perhaps that is where it stumbles. Some really terrific actors, some great music, and the fun that was the sixties. The story might even seem a little over the top and implausible but then I don't know any of the true stories of the radio rock stations this is based on.
Brilliant actor Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the boisterous lovable shock jock "The Count" and is as charismatic as always. None of the main characters really get a big back story but this is all about the radio station and the music. Hoffman is always a welcome addition to any cast and is perfect. Tom Sturridge plays the young man who is sent to live aboard the boat. In some ways this could be a coming of age story for him but they never really explore that. Instead sadly Sturridge is reduced to being wide eyed and plain and rather boring overall throughout the film. Bill Nighy is also a terrific actor who is a pleasure to see on screen and he is cool as anything in his role but only gets small screen time so doesn't leave a last mark. Nick Frost gets perhaps one of most flamboyant roles of the film as the over the top DJ Dr. Dave who is a sex crazed loud guy. He's sort of lovable and a scum bag all at once and is fun to watch. The rest of the cast all have their role to play and they are decent but they get even less screen time or depth to their characters so they unfortunately fall to the wayside.
A bit of a legendary English writer having penned for dozens of famous English Television programs. However his directing experience is limited, this being only his second big film. His first film Love Actually was very well received and I have never seen it but the problem is that Pirate Radio misses the boat on character development and leaves it all in the hands of the rock and roll. That doesn't make the film bad, in fact the film is very entertaining, will leave you smiling and has a climatic ending that will leave you feeling good and laughing. 7/10