Doubtless hoping to emulate the box office success of Bend It Like Beckham, Wondrous Oblivion is an old-fashioned coming-of-age yarn, set in South London during the summer of 1960. Written and directed by Paul Morrison, its lead character is cricket-mad Jewish schoolboy David (Sam Smith), who remains "wondrously oblivious" to his lack of talent with bat or ball. To the concern of his parents (Emily Woof and Stanley Townsend), he unexpectedly receives coaching in the back-garden net of their new Jamaican neighbour Dennis (Delroy Lindo).
The follow-up to Morrison's Oscar-nominated Solomon And Gaenor, this doesn't require detailed technical knowledge of cover drives and fielding positions, although non-aficionados may wonder about the significance of West Indian all-rounder Gary Sobers pitching up at a park game. Wondrous Oblivion, however, does have one of those schematic screenplays, where all the characters embark on journeys of self-discovery and end up learning (in)valuable life lessons.
"FILM NEVER TAKES FLIGHT CINEMATICALLY"
David's own Dad, a workaholic Polish shopkeeper, realises he needs to spend more time simply having fun with his wife and son. Mum, thanks to her friendship and brief romance with Dennis, emerges from her emotional shell and becomes more independent and assertive. David himself discovers the prejudices of the adult world from which he has been cocooned in his prep school.
Performance-wise, it's Lindo who delivers the most satisfying contribution as the warm-hearted, charming, and dignified patriarch. But despite David's playing cards that come to life and some stylized interior settings which give an atmosphere of heightened reality, the film never takes flight cinematically. Ultimately, it's an earnest rites-of-passage drama that's likely to work better on the small screen.
Wondrous Oblivion (2004)
