Submarine, an independant film production written by IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade, is written about a 15 year old boy, named Oliver Tate. Oliver Tate is a socially awkward boy, who has two ambitions in life; to lose his virginity, and to keep his parents together. He tries desperately hard to fit in with the other kids in his school. Its more of a story about a growing up romance for adults and late teenagers, who can reflect the awkward and confusing period of time that was school romance.
Oliver Tate isn't your conventional teenager. He's socially awkward, possibility OCD, obsessed with routine and keeping things at an equal level.
The theme to this story is love, which is where the social awkwardness of Oliver plays in. He is young and innocent and in love with a 15 year old girl. However, she is very forward, and very open. She is deviant and has experience.
The first kiss scenes capture the lighter side of the film. The young love allows older audiences to reminisce over their childhood days and remind young audiences of the awkwardness behindthem. These scenes allow the audience to feel like the film will be revolved around Oliver's perception of love; his happiness. The shot captures the emotion and feeling behind the scene, and encases the feel-good vibe which the audience crave so much
Of course, Richard Ayoade would not write anything and not include humour. We develop an emotional attachment to Oliver. The main part of the humour behind Oliver's character is his social awkwardness, especially with his love life. They both have two different views on love and eachother, but are along the same lines. In the trailer, Oliver's voice over says: "I asked her if she was my girlfriend now, she replied 'I'll think about it' but what she meant was 'Yes, we are now as one'" -Clearly, that would mean 'maybe not' but he's perceived it as something different, hence adding to the amusement. This shows the naivity and vulnerability of Oliver as a character, so we side with him. Our sympathies toward Oliver create an emotional attachment to our main protagonist.
Oliver's attempt at adult behaviour adds extra humour; he blew things way out of proportion making things awkward for the viewer to watch and adds a cheesy element to the romance, showing how inexperienced and awkward he is.
However, there is an element of realism in the story. The difficulty between his parents relationships, his awkward relationship with his parents itself (the lack of connection especially, and the psychological/socialogical doubts they have against him)
The informal first person narrative of Oliver Tate gives a present tense walkthrough the film, the use of the typewriter give an archaic, classic feel to the narration, and even still his life.
Therefore, it gives a saddening approach, that he's behind socially, and technology. That he makes do with what he has, but always aspires for that little bit more.
Submarine is the kind of film that can relate to other films, the story is a familiar story and older audiences can easily relate.
