When two bits of media are similar it seems almost impossible not to compare them. Nonetheless I found myself doing just that when viewing 2010’s “Submarine.” Even though the film is not a sequel or direct comparison to any other existing film it seemed so familiar to other works that I was, at first, hard-pressed to judge how it stood on its own.
Let’s start with the similarities: First off, “Submarine” follows the well worn pattern of quirky characters, filmmaking and humor first made popular by Wes Anderson in such films as “The Life Aquatic: with Steve Zisou” or more directly “Rushmore.” Secondly, the protagonist, Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) seems to be the cinematic counterpart to Eoin Colfer’s child-genius Artemis Fowl (from the book series of the same name) albeit without the nefarious criminal mastermind influences. Recently it seems even a cable internet service has jumped on this bandwagon as they have created a character for their commercials named “Timothy”, a precocious child obsessed with world domination. Said bandwidth obsessed “Timothy” is a dead-ringer as the American counterpart to Welsh the film’s lead Oliver Tate. However whereas “Timothy” and “Artemis Fowl” are bent on world domination, Tate wants a few things more grounded and universal.
Tate’s young-adult quest in “Submarine” has two important goals: Number one being to find a girlfriend and lose his virginity. Number two is to prevent his parents from getting a divorce. Tate has both objectives planned out in a meticulous manner. His world is formatted in by-the-numbers step-by-step pragmatic plans. He knows how long it’s been since his parents have last been romantic by careful monitoring of their bedroom’s dimmer switch. Likewise his quest for young romance is equally scripted. Tate has scientific reasons for believing people will react a certain way and he plants his seeds in hopeful expectation that all his plans will come to fruition.
Of course nothing works out like he plans it. His parent’s marriage is threatened by a man from his mother’s past, Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine), a pyramid-worshiping mullet-wearing self-help guru. Tate’s father, Lloyd (Noah Taylor) is oblivious at first to this matrimonial threat but later deals with it by sinking into deep depression. Similarly, Tate’s romantic quest becomes waylaid by his girlfriend, Jordana Bevan (Yasmin Paige) and her refusal to act out according to his script.
At first Tate is stonewalled in his inability to perceive just where his plans went wrong, given his above average intellect. As the story moves on and more and more of the child-prodigy’s schemes fall to pieces Tate’s world comes perilously close to falling around him.
The story is told from Tate’s point of view and Craig Roberts seems to embrace the character wholeheartedly. The quirky dry humor of writer/director Richard Ayoade (“The I.T. Crowd”) makes this disillusioned character likeable even as he fumbles through adolescent foibles. Almost more alluring is the damaged father figure played by Noah Taylor. It’s obvious where the younger Tate gets his desire and penchant for orderly existence. Taylor’s Lloyd embodies overwhelming sadness in every scene balanced with some very subtle humor.
As a whole the film works very well even though it seemed impossible to not think of Wes Anderson’s body of work of quirky off-beat comedy. Where “Submarine” breaks out however is with its accessibility. Though it feels like this has been done before the jokes seem awkward but not as submerged in Anderson’s peculiar pathos. Oddities abound in this darkly quiet comedy but nothing seems quite as outlandish and in-jokey as “Life Aquatic” or “Royal Tennenbaums.” The characters are believable and grounded and the humor, though subtle seems to reverberate to a much broader audience.
True this coming of age tale doesn’t really do anything new, but Ayoade’s work, though painted with a similar palette, does take on a life of its own. As our young protagonist pulls his head out of the proverbial water “Submarine” emerges as a charming individual picture made new from familiar elements.
Submarine (2010)
Stars: Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor and Paddy Considine
Director: Richard Ayoade
Runtime: 97 minutesRated R for language and some sexual content
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