John Lennon's childhood and teenage years were absolutely dull and predictable. Or at least this is what watching "Nowhere Boy," the musical biopic of the Beatles' beloved co-frontman in his adolescence, reveals. Despite its decent musical numbers and solid performances, "Nowhere Boy" retreats so frequently on worn cinematic ground that it's just not worth your time.
The film tells the story of young Lennon (Aaron Johnson) growing up under the care of his Aunt Mimi (an underused Kristin Scott Thomas), questioning who his real parents are. He knows his father is long gone; but his mother ... not so much. They eventually meet, and she (Anne-Marie Duff) is a middle-aged rebel-housewife in a baking apron who soon proves to be a bad influence. Take a guess at what happens next.
Those looking for a Beatles-centric film will be disappointed. While teenage Paul and Ringo are a nice part of the movie, director Sam Taylor-Wood chooses to focus on Lennon growing up off the stage — not on it. The few glimpses at how the band came to be are interesting enough, but most of the off-stage scenes (read: 90 percent of the movie) are nothing more than a tawdry coming-of-age story that's been done many, many times before. Manipulative and slow in pace, the drama of suburban London life doesn't make for a riveting film. And come on, this guy's supposed to be (arguably) the most beloved Beatle.
Johnson does make a suitable Lennon, handling the role of the budding pop sensation with minimal angst and outbursts. Appropriately restrained in his emotion, he's a realistic teenager. Scott Thomas also gives a satisfying performance as Mimi, the strict aunt who knows more than she lets on.
It's hard to recommend a film like "Nowhere Boy." The performances make it worthwhile, but it's just dull. Really dull. Some occasionally interesting tidbits about The Beatles and excellent scenes involving Johnson and Scott Thomas are a joy to behold, but they are simply too few and far between to warrant a viewing. "Nowhere Boy" succeeds only in being uninformative and pointless for both Beatles fans and casual viewers alike.
