Director and writer Richard Curtis(“Notting Hill” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral”) brings to life the story of outlaw DJs who defied the British government for all that is worthy: drugs, sex and rock ‘n roll.
The government banished modern pop and rock ‘n roll from the mainland radio stations. Rock DJs took to the high seas to broadcast from ships docked in the North Sea. The film follows the fate of one pirate radio station called Radio Rock. They would play the most popular artists of the day: The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds.
The story begins with Carl(Tom Sturridge) arriving on the Radio Rock ship because he had been expelled from his school for smoking cigarettes and marijuana. He claims his mother sent him there to try a different way of life with his Uncle Quentin(Bill Nighy). He meets a ragtag crew who DJs twenty-four hours a day from the ship, including the ship’s cook, Felicity(Katherine Parkinson), who plays a lesbian. Carl bunks with a man called Kevin, who is nicknamed Thick Kevin(Tom Brooke) because he doesn’t process information that quickly (Kevin wore an Easter bunny costume to Christmas dinner). This is a coming of age story for Carl who learns about rock ‘n roll and loses his virginity(while it was being broadcast live).
The station becomes threatened when the prudes at the BBC ban advertising on pirate radio stations become illegal. In response a legendary, sexy and feisty DJ named Gavin(Rhys Ifans) returns from the United States to draw in millions to listen to Radio Rock (It’s appropriate “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones is used to introduce Gavin).
Eventually, the government deems it illegal for any ship to broadcast rock ‘n roll. Of course, Radio Rock defies the orders and continues to rock out. They try to make a getaway when the prime minister’s minion goes after them, but their engine blows up. The ship begins to sink into the North Sea.
The arrangement of cast members and intertwining of comedic episodes made this film very enduring. January Jones plays Elenore, a woman who pretends to love another DJ(Chris O’Dowd) so she can sleep with Gavin. And, another DJ named Midnight Mark claims his secret with the ladies is silence and one-liner “So, shall we get to it?”
The soundtrack which features major rock ‘n roll hits help the film’s appeal where it lacks fluidity.
I really enjoyed “Pirate Radio” and have seen it twice. Overall though, “Pirate Radio” has some truthful kernels about pirate radio off the coast of Great Britain, but in reality most of it is fictional.
