Just Jim

In a Welsh valley a socially inadequate schoolboy is bullied and has no friends. Then a mysterious American moves in next door and promises to turn him into a cool teenager.

Low budget black comedy set in the Rhymni Valley, this is a writing and directing debut by Craig Roberts who plays the title character. Full use is made of the local scenery but, while the film has its moments, overall it lacks a spark.

"I am depressed" from protagonist Jim, especially after the introduction of Emile Hirsch's kitschy cool foil, was probably unnecessary and a bit much. Up to that point, the film uses what it has to build this well balanced psychology: the trauma experienced as a victim of bullying and the subsequent introversion (spoiler free Brother Yee called it from the trailer), which in and of itself can be embraced rather than be seen as a responsive crutch to the act of bullying itself. Roberts never loses sight of this though and rides this one out nicely, even if his character is, at times, overshadowed/muddied by Hirsch's gratuitous performance. Overall, if you're a fan of teenage angst, Gen Y self-conscious, self-depreciative dialogue, and a good eye for shots and rendering, then there's plenty to smile – and laugh with in Just Jim.

This is the directorial debut for Craig Roberts who also wrote this and starred in it – which is never a good idea. He takes the character he has played before in the likes of – the admittedly very good – 'Submarine' and plays him, again only in Wales. There are liberal scattering of clichés throughout and the only reason this is in Wales? It was co funded by The Welsh Film Board.

The plot is Roberts plays Jim whose best mate has stopped talking to him and his dog goes missing and then Emile Hirsch moves in next door and is ultra cool. Despite this Hirsch actually has time for him until strange things start happening and then Jim gets to grow a pair.

Now to call this slow is putting it mildly, it wears its quirky heart shakily on its loner sleeve from the start but the script is just so uninspiring and there are some massive plot holes too. I found this to be as funny as a phone directory and equally unedifying. Never write direct and star in your own vanity project. I admire Hirsch for making such films he did the same in 'Prince Avalanche' which is actually better than this. There is clearly a market for these types of films and there are some good parts to it but rating it as 'ok' is still being generous. If in doubt go for a rental – preferably getting some one else to pay for it – that way the disappointment smarts less.

It's quite a lonely film. Jim is clealy a very strange guy who doesn't connect with society until an American comes by to teach him the ways of being cool.

Then it all goes a bit weird. I can't work out which parts are dreams or real. The visions and then the reality. It's an isolated movie and it starts to look into bullying and important social issues but then goes on a complete tangent.

I'm just ending-up finishing lost. The ending is as empty as it started without it actually filling anything. I'm struggling to understand this concept and why it was done. It's a shame. Just rather meaningless despite the good original idea.

This movie is a lot of things.

It's an homage (or a rip-off, you choose) of Punch Drunk Love, Mulholland Drive, and Rebel Without A Cause.

It's a teen coming of age film that takes every genre trope and exaggerates it to bizarre extremities.

It's a comedy and, in certain segments, it's fairly unsettling.

It has an extremely pronounced tonal shift around halfway through that totally caught me off guard.

The camera-work is quite good, and the film looks great. The soundtrack is fantastic and it ranges from jangling ambiance (Punch Drunk Love) to deep drones (Mulholland Drive).

For a movie that copies so much, it all feels very original. Look forward to Craig Robert's next.