"Submarine" is a Funny, Irreverent Young Adult Narrative

Writer-director Richard Ayoade's assured directorial debut Submarine is a droll, impressionistic film about young love. It is quirky, self-deprecating and self-destructive as indie and young romance so often tends to be. Cinematographer Erik Wilson fills the film with lovely, intimate imagery (nostalgic, warm, highly-stylized and angst-ridden) that match protagonist Oliver Tate's (refreshingly played by Craig Roberts in a performance reminiscent of Bud Cort in Harold and Maude) revealing, dark and selfish inner voice over. The film captures the narrow focus of an adolescent mind and the messy, strange and sometimes cruel results of believing you're the center of the universe. Self-preservation is Oliver's goal and he ignores everyone's happiness and feelings in the process. He grows obsessive over his parent's marital problems but only in so far as it benefits himself and he pursues Jordana (Yasmin Paige) only to advance his own social status. There's an idiosyncratic charm to the film, flitting between effervescent and prickly, and it constantly leavens even its darkest of moments with a brazen sense of humor. Ayoade has a strong sense of composition even when the story is lacking just a little bit; he confidently moves the film forward passed even its most questionable and acidic moments.

Grade: B+