Pirate Radio

Rocking tale of rebellious broadcasters fighting the staid BBC radio programming of '60s England. Quentin (Nighy) and his crew of raucous deejays (Hoffman, Ifans, Frost) set up a ship in the North Sea to beam rock songs back to Blighty in defiance of uptight government minister Dormandy (Branagh). Most of the action revolves around the hijinks of the outlaw band, but a coming-of-age plotline is shoehorned in as naive teen Carl (Sturridge) attempts to find love and the identity of his father. The story drags at times, but the excellent cast and soundtrack keeps the good times rolling. Released in Great Britain as "The Boat That Rocked," this love letter to rock and roll was trimmed substantially for American release.