We happy few, we band of brothers . . .

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2009)

"Pirate Radio" is about a young man's search for his father, or at least a father figure. It's also about the importance of being true to yourself and staying loyal to your friends. Finally, it depicts rock-and-roll as a threat to staid British mores back in the 60s. All of these ideas are about as original as an Oasis song, but who cares? It's such a lively, good-hearted little film that you can't help but love it, especially if you're willing to forgive muddled storytelling and historical inaccuracy. But the fractured narrative and fuzziness of detail are perfectly appropriate, since the whole movie feels like a happy, hazy, hungover memory of an absolutely awesome party.
The main character, inasmuch as one exists, is "Young Carl" (Tom Sturridge), who is inexplicably sent to an unlicensed radio station (i.e. "Pirate") housed on a ship off the coast of England, owned by an old friend of his slutty, drunk mother (Emma Thompson in a fun cameo). Young Carl stays on the ship for the rest of the film, although we never learn exactly what he's doing there except getting drunk and laid (I told you the specifics were a tad vague). But since this is a coming-of-age story in rock-and-roll garb, the real story is male bonding and Carl's search for a father figure. The ship may lack lifeboats, but it's absolutely lousy with surrogate fathers. First, there's Quentin (Bill Nighy), the dapper owner who might be Carl's biological father. There's Dave (Nick Frost), a fat and sleazy but jovial and generous DJ who tries to help Young Carl relieve himself of his virginity. And finally, there's "The Count," an American ex-pat DJ played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who seems to be having the time of his life. Whatever Hoffman does must be watched, so you can enjoy his turn in a semi-comic, semi-heroic role as much as he does.
The other thin thread of the threadbare plot concerns the British Government's attempt to shut the station down. Kenneth Branagh and Jack Davenport play cardboard villains (Branagh even sports a Hitler mustache), but that's probably how government ministers were perceived by mod teens at the time, so it works. There are plenty of smashing British birds for your viewing pleasure, plus, the end is surprisingly suspenseful and moving. "Pirate Radio" is a damn good time about a damn good time.