Tom Sturridge is adorable in British film, “Pirate Radio,” opening everywhere today!

This movie is just wonderful. Pirate Radio, originally called The Boat that Rocked, is the newest ensemble comedy written and directed by filmmaker Richard Curtis (screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, and writer/director of one of my favorite movies of all time, Love Actually). The story is based loosely on real facts about a seafaring band of rogue rock and roll deejays whose “pirate radio” captivated and inspired 1960s Britain. Playing the music that rocked a nation – a world – and a decade, the group boldly and hilariously defies the government that tries to shut them down. The movie is filled with satire, raucous sex, (but not offensive in any way), and lots of statements about the government and freedom. It is wonderful.

The deejays broadcast live 24/7 from an old tanker anchored in the middle of the North Sea (just beyond British jurisdiction). Radio Rock sends out a message of freedom in the form of rock’n’roll to millions across the nation, ranging in age from wide-eyed pre-teens secretly tuning in long past their bedtimes to everyday people in need of a musical pick-me-up. The actors are phenomenal and star Bill Nighy in the role of Quentin, the station owner and ship’s captain, Philip Seymour Hoffman, the only American DJ on the boat, as The Count, the wonderful Rhys Ifans, in the role as sexual mystic royalty Gavin, Nick Frost as a delightful, amorous, chubby Dave, Rhys Darby as New Zealander Angus, Ralph Brown as mysterious, bearded Smooth Bob, Tom Brooke as Thikc (intentionally spelled this way) Kevin, Chris O’Dowd as the naïve, lovelorn Simon, Tom Wisdom as the gorgeous heartthrob, Midnight Mark, Ike Hamilton as the shy Harold, Will Adamsdale as reporter News John, and Katherine Parkinson as the only woman on the ship who is the cook and also a lesbian.

One night, in 1966, Quentin’s teenaged godson Carl, played by adorable Tom Sturridge, comes aboard after being expelled from school. His glamorous mother, played by Emma Thompson, thinks it will be a good experience for him. Here he meets Radio Rock’s crew of ramshackle, fun-loving disc jockeys.

At 17, Carl is skinny, awkward, shy. He admits that the closest he has ever come to “shagging” a woman is when an animal licked his face. This gets a roar of laughter from his comrades and they all take him under their wing to mentor him and befriend him. While Carl harbors romantic aspirations that he hopes will be fulfilled during one of the biweekly visits by Radio Rock’s prettiest girl fans, he also hopes to find out more about his long-absent father, who took off after he was born.

Tom Sturridge is perfect in his role as Carl. Always “underplaying” his role in shy, slow, and thoughtful movements, he becomes at once likable and charming. With chiseled cheekbones, piercing eyes, lanky body, and dark luscious hair, Sturridge could easily become a leading man someday. He is the movie’s consciousness and through his eyes, we observe the rest of the characters. And what a rambunctious group they are. They are quite literally wonderful.

As the ship sails on and rocks out, what Carl and the freewheeling, free-loving Radio Rock gang don’t know is that back in London, landlocked government minister Dormandy, played superbly by Kenneth Branagh, has embarked on a vehement crusade to silence their signal – permanently. The most uptight individual you’ll ever meet, he hates rock’n’roll and everything it stands for. Freedom. Non-inhibition. Sex. To stay afloat and keep their devoted audience plugged in, the crew will have to band together and trust in the power of music like never before. We’re talking about 60s music and is it ever wonderful. The soundtrack is superb.

Woman expert Dave wastes no time in introducing Carl to women, only for both of Carl’s attempts to be foiled by Dave himself, including Carl’s first crush, Quentin’s niece, Marianne (Talulah Riley).  Simon also is unlucky in love, meeting and marrying the too-good-to-be-true Elenore (January Jones who stars in TV’s Mad Men) only to find her affections are really placed with the returning “King of the Airwaves,” Gavin (Rhys Ifans). The Count objects to Gavin’s antics with Elenore, leading to a clash of egos.

Dormandy instructs his subordinate Twatt, (what a name!) portrayed by Jack Davenport, who now stars on the new sci-fi TV series, V)  to find a way to take down pirate radio, despite its popularity among the pop hungry masses. He finally figures out a way to stop the boat. I am purposefully not telling you the whole story here. I believe you will have more fun if you watch it and let it surprise you. And you’ll really enjoy Tom Sturridge’s performance.

Tom Sturridge, who is 23 years old, attended Winchester College in Hampshire, England. Sturridge’s father is the television director Charles Sturridge of “Brideshead Revisited,” and his mother is the stage actress Phoebe Nicholls. He claims he avoided acting for as long as he could. “I was quite against it, and it was the last thing my parents wanted me to be doing. I was so afraid of becoming a cliché, but unfortunately, I ended up becoming one,” he says with mock regret.  A friend’s parent was casting Being Julia and was looking to hire an actor, but they couldn’t find a suitable 17-year-old boy. Tom got the job. One of his favorite hobbies is reading (like that of his best friend, Rob Pattinson.) Tom just finished Roberto Bolano’s “The Savage Detectives,” and has just picked up a copy of “Legend of a Suicide” by David Vann.

His next movie is Waiting for Forever, which was shot in Salt Lake City and is due out next year. “It’s about a homeless street performer stalking a girl,” he says. “It was a low-budget film shot in 18 hours.”

Pirate Radio, first titled The Boat that Rocked, actually flopped in London theaters last spring, but was shortened and reedited for the U.S. This time around, the focus is less on history and more on that merry band of music makers who broadcast from old ships anchored in the North Sea.

The movie is rated R because of sexual humor and profanity. But, honestly, it’s not offensive in any way. If I had teenage children, I’d take them to see this movie. It’s uplifting, fun and the music is a collection of 60’s music that’s timeless featuring the Kinks, Duffy, The Turtles, Jeff Beck, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Hollies, The Troggs, The Who and much, much more.