British rom-com institution Richard Curtis returns to the director’s chair with an unsurprisingly sentimental yet constantly entertaining tribute to circa 1960s British Pop Radio, The Boat That Rocked.

Opening with a brief rundown on the limited output of pop music on BBC radio, Curtis quickly takes the viewer out to the high seas where pirate radio station, Radio Rock, jubilantly supplies the illegal sounds of rock ‘n’ roll to the nations’ rock malnourished youth.  

Also along for the ride is recently expelled prep school student Carl (Tom Sturridge), who is sent to stay with his Godfather, Radio Rock boss Quentin (Bill Nighy). Soon after Carl meets the residents of the rusty old ship, among them: horny shock jock, Gavin (Rhys Ifans);The Seekers fanatic, Angus (Rhys Darby); and American DJ supreme, The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman).     

With the virginal Carl now immersed in the rock scene he previously admired from afar, along with Hoffman’s Lester Bang’s inspired performance, one can be forgiven if The Boat That Rocked sometimes feels like Almost Famous, only at sea. Yet the films biographical elements stops it from drowning in previously chartered waters, especially in regards to the British governments efforts to shut pirate radio down for good in order to maintain a moral ordinance among its youth. 

Leading the charge in this part of the story is Kenneth Branagh, who really pushes the stiff upper lip caricature as far as it can go, in his role as the determined and abusive Minister Dormanady.

The sixties were a vibrant and inspirational time, making it easy fodder for Curtis to take great influence from in terms of this films look and tone. Its soundtrack -as expected- is spectacular, and helps feel the void during the long stretches of repeated shenanigans from a congested cast of characters, who are all given the time to shine. Yet Curtis’s insistence to let every man have a say does backfire in a fidgety 2 hr plus run time.  

What gives the film its energy are its performances. Curtis has a knack for drawing credible names to his projects, and with this ensemble of talented character actors all playing to their strengths, The Boat That Rocked proves to be an entertaining, if not restless rock ‘n’ roll romp on the high seas.