Sixty Six

Director: Peter Weiland
Screenwriters: Peter Straughan, Bridget O'Connor
Starring: Gregg Sulkin, Eddie Marsan, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Rea, Catherine Tate, Peter Serafinowicz
Running time: 89 mins
Certificate: 12A

12-year-old Bernie Ruben (Sulkin) is a child deprived of attention. Largely ignored by his own family and ignored, if he's lucky, at school, he avidly looks forward to his Bar Mitzvah when, for just one day, all eyes will be on him. However, being the summer of 1966, the nation's attention turns to the World Cup, the final of which is scheduled for the same date as his special day.

Even if the assurances from all around him are true and that England has no chance of getting as far as the final, the state of the family's affairs also threatens Bernie's perfect opportunity to be the temporary centre of attention.

The story is loosely based on the experience of director Peter Weiland, who decided to commit it to screen after a positive reaction to a birthday speech. You get the feeling that the events have been quite exaggerated, but the themes of Bernie's finding his place in the family and the world and becoming a man ring true enough.

At its heart, Sixty Six is about Bernie's journey from being an ignored child who craves attention from his less-than-ideal parents. The proud Manny (Marsan) is a questionable role model - his priority is the business and he proves inept when forced to indulge his younger son with a day out. Ultimately though, Bernie learns to lower his high expectations, unfortunately leading to an overly saccharine ending.

Weiland does well to avoid getting too concerned with cultural peculiarities and prevents the film from becoming the niche picture it could have been. While the family's Jewishness is hardly incidental to the plot, the faith doesn't take the front seat by any means. That said, the fervour and dedication with which fellow parents prepare for their own sons' Bar Mitzvahs play on stereotypes which sit a little oddly.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments, such as from Manny's wedding speeches listing relatives' injuries, and few minutes pass without at least a hearty smile, be it from Bernie's attempts to scupper the England team's chances or from his About A Boy-style observations about his family.

However, where the film loses marks is in the emotional stakes. The performances are strong, particularly from Marsan and Bonham Carter, and new face Sulkin makes a valiant effort in his lead role, but somehow the film doesn't have the emotional weight for which it seems to aim.

A little more effective as a comedy than a drama, Sixty Six is certainly worth one and a half hours of your time.