The Pebble and the Boy

I am sorry to have to say that this is a pretty bad film on so many levels.

I was curious about the film as I am on old mod. I even donated to the crowd funding project to help it get made. This has nothing to do with my criticism of the film. Its just not a good piece of cinema. I was very disappointed with the outcome. To be honest I am not even sure how I managed to watch to the end.

The writing is the main problem, the story is awful and it!s very cheesy. There are lots of unfeasible plot turns and the tale becomes less and less feasible as the film unwinds. To say that the acting is not great being kind and the continuity is shot through with holes. It's clear that certain labels paid to have their brands featured and the product placement stands out like a sore thumb.

I have no idea how some people have given this a 10/10. Let's be honest, even Quadrophenia is not a 10 out of 10 film and this is no Quadrophenia.

Nice Lambretta though.

Sadly this was probably someone's passion project. We'll done fo getting it made. Making a film is not easy. Unfortunately this one didn't hit the target (pun intended).

Went in very open minded and came out full of nostalgic tears full of the mod revival of 1979 which personally is me , memories came flooding back not only of the style but the superb sounds cracking little story which came across so stylish and with humour, I thank you for taking me back to my youth for which I love so much happy mod .

Sorry, I don't get the 10/10 thing. Must be me. It failed as a road movie, just not enough road shots and those that were there were clearly at about 5 mph in a park, too many convenient coincidences eased their path. The premise was fine, but too many angst ridden teenager shots. The final denouement was painful and, frankly, a bit cruel.

The Kensit attempted seduction thing. Dearie me.

Nice music, but not enough made of it. Sorry, not for me.

As a mod revivalist I was wanting to see this for a long time and have only just found the time.

I wasn't expecting Quadrophenia, the movie was crowd funded and never had the budget to be big, it's not going to be a cult classic and to be perfectly honest, I don't think that outside of the mod culture, it wouldn't get the audience it deserves.

The story is good, but is let down by continuing additions to the leading characters dads backstory, which to be fair, seems like he was known to everyone within the mod world at the time. I suppose in hindsight there were a few like that in 79 but not many of us really took any notice. The internet wasn't about and the only way you knew of these people was to either meet them at gigs and scooter runs or you made read about them in fanzines. It just didn't seem like a believable back story.

As said, the story itself is good and it could have been about anyone making that journey. It had a purpose and obviously to make it interesting various additional parts are added into the story. It could have been so much more, going deeper into the characters rather than the backstory of Johns deceased dad. I won't go into it because if you strip away the unnecessary stuff, there's not really much to tell without completely spoiling it.

The music was ok, could have been more included especially by groups like Secret Affair and (my favourites) the Chords. The Jam and Style Council featured too and I'm wondering if Weller really needed the exposure? Guest appearance by Mani from the Stone Roses too. Noted that nothing by many of the other revival groups was included, considering this was supposed to aimed at a mod audience.

Nice scooters too, sure I recognise a couple of those.

On the whole this film could have been so much more, with or without the mod label hung round its neck like a noose. I wonder what it would have been like with a wad of money thrown at it and top direction and production behind it, and had nothing to do with the modernist scene.

I gave it a 5, more for the music and scooters. It's not one that I would go out if my way to watch again.

For those that want to know more about the actual mod revival scene, and how it is now, there is plenty to be found on Facebook. There are still bands doing the circuits and it still has a strong following although many of us are well in our 50's and early 60's now. The Lambrettas still break down and you still need a mate with a transit.

There's millions like us.

I enjoyed watching this film, I found it funny and enjoyed the subject matter as I love all things mod and love the Jam and Paul Weller. I would have liked more music tracks to be played throughout the film, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend if you are a mod fan.