Daniel Bagnold (Earl Cave) is all set to spend his six week summer holiday with his father in Florida when he gets the call to say he can not come this year. Instead he has to spend the summer with his librarian mother Sue (Monica Dolan).

The most interesting thing about this dry, witty comedy about average suburban life is that it acts as a coming of age story for both Daniel and Sue. Daniel is a typical sullen fifteen-year-old boy. He wears black, has long hair and listens to heavy metal. He is a little unsure of where he fits in the world and whilst he loves his mum he does not really understand her. Sue is a middle aged woman who has dedicated her life to looking after her son following her husband leaving seven years previous. Devoted to her son she has sacrificed any personal connections and is desperate to do the right thing for Daniel. The film follows their summer as they struggle to get along as new blooms grow in terms of their personal lives.

Debut director Simon Bird, most well known as Will in The Inbetweeners has successfully captured middle aged suburban life and the generational frustration between teenagers and parents here. With the help of supporting roles from Rob Brydon, Tamsin Greig and Alice Lowe there is a subtle layer of comedy running through the film as well. It has some fantastic comedy moments with the stand out being a cut away from Daniel’s first audition for a metal band. There are also some dynamic visual elements, such as its homage to A Clockwork Orange, where we see Daniel stock still at the kitchen table on his phone whilst Sue does all the housework around him.

The real trump card though is an original soundtrack from Belle and Sebastian. The quirky indie band adding the perfect melancholic score to the film’s wry comedy.

This is not a film of bombastic life events but it still delivers.