1 Boat. 8 DJs. No Morals.

Has anyone seen Pirate Radio (Curtis, 2009)?  This British comedy, released in Europe as The Boat That Rocked, stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh.  The story, inspired by true events, is about a group of DJs living together on a boat in the middle of the Northern Atlantic in the 1960s who broadcasted rock-n-roll music into England, which was illegal at the time and drove British government crazy.

The film currently has a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so I guess you could say the reviews have been pretty mixed.  I certainly enjoyed the film and thought it was funny, enjoyable, and had some great music.  The actors, especially Hoffman and Branagh, gave some great performances and the outrageous personalities of each DJ will certainly make you smile.  I also liked up-and-coming British cutie Tom Sturridge.  (This London-native is not only one of the U.K.'s rising stars, but also Robert Pattinson's BFF!!)

 

I agree Jonathan F. Richard of Film.com who explained that this film is "just a hell of a lot of fun."  The movie is not meant to be overly complicated or deep.  It's just a good, light-hearted film with a simple plot, good acting, and a great backbeat.  "Pirate Radio, the new rock-saturated comedy that proves life is better when it's set to a '60s soundtrack, is, to borrow from the Stones, 'a gas! gas! gas!'" commented Betsey Sharley of the LA Times.