From Garth Marenghi's Dark Place to The IT Crowd, Richard Ayoade has become one of the UK's best loved comedy stars. Perhaps surprisingly, in just the space of two films he's proven himself to be more than capable behind the camera, with 2014's The Double earning him well deserved praise. His debut Submarine, which he wrote and directed, is a wonderfully observed, funny and poignant coming-of-age story which never feels the need to pander to convention while at the same time demonstrating Ayoade's cinematic flair. Indeed, few directorial debuts since 2000 have been so effortless and assured as Submarine. Sadly, audiences didn't flock to see this great film on the limited release it experienced in cinemas, and it didn't find as many new admirers as it deserved on retail either, which is a crying shame since Submarine stands head and shoulders above far more popular coming-of-age films which turned out to be huge hits.
