16 Years Later, It’s Time to Admit Critics Were Wrong About This Bill Nighy-Led Comedy Drama (& Its 1 of the Best Movies of the 2000s)

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Throughout the history of cinema, critics have often made mistakes when it comes to criticizing films too harshly, with even Blade Runner and Jaws being panned upon release. When it comes to the 2000s, the explosion in feel-good comedies left many critics disappointed by the genre, with even some great films getting caught up. In the case of a treasured 2009 British rock ‘n’ roll coming-of-age story, critics and audiences alike got it horribly wrong.

The comedy genre is one of the most hit-or-miss with critics, boasting one of the biggest gaps between audience reception and critical reviews. Where fans tend to be a lot more excited and impressed by the silly, zany side of the genre, critics have always been harder to impress. Even so, plenty of more highbrow, artistic comedies fly under the radar too, with longer runtimes being one of several things that can push them away. In the case of a 2009 cult classic, both fans and critics alike actually completely missed the mark, leading to a disappointing box office showing. Nonetheless, this Richard Curtis movie is actually one of the greatest coming-of-age films ever made.

British Comedy Swept The 2000s

British Cinema Reached A New Peak

While the 1980s and ’90s mainstream cinema had been almost entirely dominated by Hollywood productions, the 2000s saw a turnaround for the UK. This began with late ’90s pop-culture sensations, such as The Full Monty and Bean, along with the resurgence of the Bond franchise, which helped reach an international audience. As the 2000s rolled around, the careers of people like Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, and Edgar Wright gave fans modern classics, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Throughout the decade, the British film industry released a non-stop slew of brilliant comedies, including St. Trinian’s, In Bruges, Snatch, Johnny English, and Love Actually. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the decade concluded with one of the greatest British comedies ever made, even if it has gone woefully under-appreciated by critics and audiences alike.

The growth and success of British comedy and cinema in general led to a second «British invasion» of American pop culture. Stars like Hugh Laurie, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Christian Bale, Kate Winslet, and Clive Owen, among many others, found fame in Hollywood after their initial success in Britain. This has continued in the years since, even being true of directors who migrated to the US and took their careers to new heights. The likes of Austin Powers proved the American love of British culture, especially comedy, was alive and well.

It wasn’t just British cinema that experienced a comeback in the 2000s. TV and music had a similar resurgence for the nation, as shows and artists like Lily Allen, Adele, The Thick of It and Peep Show also enjoyed success. All of this paved the way for Richard Curtis’ 2009 coming-of-age comedy, Pirate Radio (better known as The Boat That Rocked), which is one big love letter to Britain’s golden age of pirate radio, and an embrace of pop culture at its best. Boasting an all-star cast of some of the decade’s finest character actors, it was entirely underrated at its time — but it deserves to be rediscovered.

The Boat That Rocked Explores The Age Of Pirate Radio

It's A Coming Of Age Love Letter To Music

The Boat That Rocked focuses on a seventeen-year-old boy, Carl, as his mother sends him to live with his godfather, Quentin, aboard a pirate radio ship after getting expelled from school. Set in the 1960s, when rock and roll was played for a mere forty-five minutes on the BBC, the DJs of pirate radio were rock stars in their own right, captivating the nation through their shows and musical tastes. As Carl comes aboard, he’s introduced to characters like the ship’s resident American, The Count, and Doctor Dave. Settling into his new home, he soon befriends his fellow music-loving sailors and attempts to find love while aboard through the vessel’s biweekly visits of women and Quentin’s stunning niece, Marianne. However, when she has a fling with Dave, the lovesick teen is left to wallow in his teen angst.

The friction aboard the ship soon grows as, in a bid to battle government interference, Quentin announces the return of the world’s greatest DJ, Gavin Kavanagh. Just as «Simple Simon» Swafford marries a beautiful woman, Elenore, he soon discovers she only married him to skirt the ship’s rules, which only permit women to live aboard if they marry a DJ. She’s in love with Gavin, a revelation that breaks Simon’s heart and leads to a feud between the Count and Kavanagh, both of whom believe themselves to be the greatest DJ. After they’re both injured, they have a heart-to-heart, and all the ship’s wounds are healed, especially as Carl gets a second chance with Marianne.

The film’s third act leaves Carl believing that the father he never knew might actually be aboard the ship, all as the government’s efforts to quash pirate radio reaches its climax. As the teen tries to figure out who aboard is his father, he soon discovers his mother, Quentin, and the DJs prepare to set sail to avoid the authorities. There, the film turns from a more conventional laugh-out-loud comedy to something more melancholic as the crew considers their fates should pirate radio be successfully banned. Here, the story is elevated into something truly brilliant, replete with emotional moments and glorious defiance of the government.

Critics Were Alienated By Its Runtime

The Longer Cut Is Perfect

coming-of-age story is the exception to that rule. Experiencing the full cut makes for one of the greatest cinematic experiences of the 2000s.

Even today, the film is shockingly panned by the critical consensus, sitting at an underwhelming «rotten» score of just 59% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, on the other hand, have warmed to the film since its release, earning it a staunch cult following among comedy and rock ‘n’ roll fans alike. In effect, the movie takes the journey of a teenage boy as he becomes an adult and sets it against the backdrop of one of the richest periods in pop culture history. From start to finish, the audience is treated to an assortment of classics, from Cat Stevens and The Beach Boys to The Turtles and David Bowie. When all is said and done, few movies can make their viewers laugh, cry, and cheer quite like The Boat That Rocked.

The film is full of scenes that show that it’s the small things that ultimately matter, with some of the most heartwarming moments being small acts of friendship. From Harold and Mayford’s comically sweet attempt to cheer up a lovesick Carl to the boy’s discovery of his father, the film is a feel-good story in the truest sense. Despite its heartbreak, by the end of the story, there’s nothing but elation, love, and happiness, even if things don’t work out quite as expected. The friendship between the DJs in the face of danger, the father/son moments, and the love and loss along the way give the coming-of-age genre its standard formula, but with far more originality and style than fans are used to. The film brings with it an ensemble cast that includes Bill Nighy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Jack Davenport, and Chris O’Dowd, bringing all characters to life in spectacular fashion.

The Movie Is The Ultimate Rebellion Story

And It Has A Tender Father/Son Subplot

The ’60s were, if nothing else, a decade defined by rebellion, defiance, and freedom in the face of government repression, something Curtis’ film plays on masterfully. The pirates of Pirate Radio live up to their reputations as the ultimate rebels, filling their lives with their love and passion for music. With the film’s casual use of nudity, swearing, and living a life free of traditional responsibility, it speaks to the age of the hippie and classic rock wonderfully. While films like Rock of Ages try to be the ultimate rock and roll film, this 2009 masterpiece might actually succeed, channeling both the true spirit and style of the musical genre.

Ultimately, the film is made by its eccentric band of characters who, even though some have limited screen time, all win the love and admiration of the audience. While the film does immerse its audience in the culture and sensibilities of the ’60s, it also brings with it a more modern style of comedy, ensuring it doesn’t feel at all out of place. In a world where audiences are clamoring for the return of great, rebellious comedy, it’s hard to go wrong with Richard Curtis’ all-star rock ‘n’ roll masterpiece, The Boat That Rocked.