I guess you could call this a somber comedy. It's set in Wales, which is dark and grey and by the ocean. The protagonist is Oliver, who is sort of withdrawn, and into literature and silent films. However, he is nothing if not enterprising. His father is stoic and his mother is bored. He is attracted to a classmate who seems a bit dour and has a fondness for matches. The film is directed by Richard Ayoade, best known for his role as Moss on the very broad British sitcom The IT Crowd. As a director, Ayoade is a bit of an auteur. The film utilizes freeze frames, slow motion, dream sequences, Wes Anderson-like titles, exaggerated music cues, etc. I liked the film and I generally liked the aesthetic Ayoade was going for. The film is not as compelling as some of the classics in the disaffected youth comin-of-age genre, but it has style and some humor and some genuine moments (the ending, for one). Craig Roberts captures the earnestness of Oliver and Yasmin Paige conveys melancholy and mischievousness in his girlfriend Jordana. Both are well cast. For that segment of the population for which Harold and Maude is a seminal film, Submarine is a must-watch. 3 out of 5 stars.
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