The Scouting Book for Boys

A stupid, cruel boy and ignorant adults. Welcome to Britain. This film continually distances itself from realistic psychological drama. We learn barely believable (but shocking) information, the police exhibit a degree of incompetence that’s unprecedented even by movie standards and everything culminates in an action that is not even slightly consistent with the characters’ previous behaviour (though it is shocking). The only reasonable explanation would be David’s mental retardation, but I’m afraid it’s actually just a matter of the actor’s poorly chosen expression. The “important” slowness of the film’s pace only covers up its dullness and the fact that The Scouting Book for Boys is built on one or, at most, two shocking twists. On top of that, the film is clumsily directed, without any believable acting performances and without a uniform tone – the intimate atmosphere is constantly disrupted by a big crowd here, inappropriate music there. When even the psychology fails in a psychological film, it’s better to just turn and run (at least you will get some physical exercise, because this film requires no mental effort). 45% (16/11/2011)