A TV comedy favourite makes a more than promising debut as a director...

After his involvement with the likes of The Mighty Boosh, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace and Smack The Pony, Richard Ayoade turns his very capable hands to directing for the big screen. His first feature length coming-of-age flick, Submarine, is based on Joe Dunthorne’s novel and follows Oliver’s journey of self-discovery, desperate attempt to fix his parents ailing marriage and quest for love.

The film is broken up into four parts of significant days and dates with Oliver’s (Craig Roberts) quirkily written voice-over guiding us through his daily life. Carrying a brief-case, he amusingly slips into school like a “torpedo” and through his constant commentary exposes his eccentricities. His mother, Jill (Sally Hawkins), once dreamt of being an actress and is described as “naturally neurotic”. By contrast, his father Lloyd (Noah Taylor) is a marine biologist who works for the University and is notable as being the first person in the village to install double-glazing. Lloyd’s nemesis is Jill’s first love, the wonderfully written Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine), with his fairy-light decorated van; “System of Psychic Intelligence” and ability to genuinely and quite seriously spout mystic nonsense like “I'm a prism. We all radiate colour...”

Ayoade is spot-on in representing the innocence and naivety of an impressionable youth. Allowing us to see the world through teenage eyes is one way he creates his own special brand of understated comedy – it’s pretty difficult not to snigger when Oliver tells the girl of his dreams that she has “scaly hands” or describes a “routine search of [his] parent's bedroom”.

It’s all the characters’ unusual personal qualities, actions and interests that make Submarine so memorable. As the lead, Oliver is of course the most thoroughly-written character, imitating new words he hears his father use, listening into his mother’s phone calls, amusingly failing in his attempt to urinate on Graham's belongings, laying himself out on a candlelit bed and giving Jordana Catcher In The Rye so they can might find mutual interests, other than “spitting and setting fire to things”. Jordana (Yasmin Paige) is also a big character, getting Oliver to write a diary entry about kissing her; preferring Oliver’s favourite industrial estate to anywhere deemed romantic and seeking gifts like her favourite Torpedo matchbox. Oliver’s dad is equally bizarre in his behaviour at times, making Oliver a relationship mix tape, including break-up tracks at the end “just in case”.

Although predominantly a comedy, Submarine does have serious moments, such as the announcement that Jordana's mum has a brain tumour and the tearful awkward early family Christmas meal Oliver attends at her house. Footage, showing Oliver declaring his love and being forced to read out his classroom doodlings are equally painful to watch, as having followed Oliver’s thoughts and actions, it’s almost like we’re being humiliated at the same time.

Ayoade’s script is perfectly pitched showing the strange workings of a fifteen year-old’s mind through the voice-over. There are far too many chuckle-inducing lines to mention, but some favourite Oliver moments include his toast to “us and a wonderful evening of love-making”, his description of Jordana’s mouth “[tasting] of milk, polo mints and Dunhill International” and his admittance to his mum: “Me and dad have discussed it – we both want to make this marriage work”.

It’s not just Ayoade’s wordplay and distinct sense of humour that make Submarine but also his vision. Submarine’s relationship montage is like a music video, there’s amazing kaleidoscope firework footage reminiscent of the Wicked Witch pedalling away in The Wizard Of Oz and shotgun snippet scenes.

An original snickering kind of comedy with very realistic surreal but grounded characters, Submarine is thoroughly enjoyable right up to its cleverly-written ending. As Oliver satisfyingly admits “I don't know if I've come of age but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken”, we’re treated to a final dollop of idle teenage fun.

Special Features:

- Ben Stiller Message (Executive Producer)
- Coco Q & A
- Deleted Scenes
- Extended Scenes
- Glasgow Film Festival Q & A
- Interviews with Paddy Considine, Sally Hawkins, Mark Herbert, Yasmin Paige, Craig Roberts, Andrew Stebbing, Noah Taylor
- Pile Driver Waltz Video
- Test Shoot
- Through The Prism – Graham T. Purvis

Submarine's title page and menus perfectly complement the film's quirky indie feel. Surrounding a sketched Oliver are nine enticing options, including a stand-out fifteen minute Graham T. Purvis mockumentary, explaining his holistic lifestyle programme to harness the power of colour. Broken up into five suitably over-the-top section headings, Paddy Considine visibly loves every rambling moment of Through The Prism, regularly  venturing off the path and getting lost in surreal tandems.

Almost equalling Through The Prism in its comedic surrealism is a short three minute message from Ben Stiller, clearly in tune with a hilarious Richard Ayoade who outshines other cast members in Coco and Glasgow Film Festival interviews with his quick succession of dry tongue-in-cheek responses.

The other meatier feature is comprised of a series of seven mini-interviews with the main cast and producer that can be watched in individual segments or a poorly edited whole. Painfully drawn-out question heads display interview questions and the actor/character name. Paddy Considine once again shines, revealing his mischievous nature, fabulous sense of humour and love of the word “great”. Sally Hawkins is the most surprisingly disjointed least fluid interviewee.

Director/writer: Richard Ayoade
DVD Release Date: August 1 2011
Running Time: 97 mins
Certificate: 15
Starring: Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, Noah Taylor, Yasmin Paige

Submarine will be released in the UK on August 1st 2011

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