In the 1960s a group of 8 rogue DJs on a boat in the middle of the Northern Atlantic, played rock records and broke the law all for the love of music. The songs they played united and defined an entire generation and drove the British government crazy. By playing rock ‘n roll they were standing up against the British government who did everything in their power to shut them down.
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THE BOAT THAT ROCKED
(15) 135mins
DRINKING, swearing, frilly clothes and nautical adventures  all the key elements of a pirate movie are present and correct. Even Bill Nighy is on board.
But this scurvy bunch are anchored in the North Sea rather than the Caribbean and their crimes are playing records by The Seekers, not cutting throats (though after too many Seekers tracks thatÂs what youÂll want to do).
Welcome to The Boat That Rocked, a film inspired by the pirate radio stations that brought pop music to Britain in the Sixties.
If you are hoping for an accurate account of how the likes of John Peel and Tony Blackburn took on the law and lost, put those expectations aside now.
This is a Richard Curtis movie, and the Love Actually directorÂs specs are too rose tinted to read history books.
All the names and events are fictional. The central plot is a coming of age story with teenager Carl losing his virginity and finding his father after joining Radio Rocks. This weaves around a plot by government minister Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) to end the illegal broadcasts.
You also get a highly entertaining DJ ego battle between Philip Seymour HoffmanÂs The Count and Rhys Ifans hugely popular Gavin.
At times the humour is too puerile. DormandyÂs assistant is called Twatt, and itÂs a joke that really grates at the twelfth hearing.
Smoking … Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy
Carl is played by yet another wet, public school actor called Tom Sturridge. The old school tie is strangling British cinematic talent. But comic actors Nick Frost, Chris OÂDowd and Rhys Darby all play a vital role in making this an uplifting, frothy, sexy and often funny movie.
It wonÂt make any waves, but it is smashing and nice.
Best Line: When offered the chance to leave Radio Rocks rather than break the law, one crew member says: âIÂve got somewhere to go, but itÂs Peckham.â
Best character: Philip Seymour Hoffman is always brilliant and so is The Count.
Family rating: Nudity, mild drug references and swearing.
Bum numbness: Long wave.
Rating out of five: Four
UK release date: April 3
