What makes it different from others?

That was an excellent one.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Diminutive Craig Roberts did a memorable turn in the BBC3 series Being Human. In Just Jim he stars as well as directing and writing the film.He plays lonely Welsh teenager Jim, who is a bit of a social outcast. Even his dog runs away from him. Then a mysterious American called Dean (Emile Hirsch) moves next door to him and Dean is modelled on a rebellious James Dean.He makes Jim look cool by giving him a kind of 50s American look. Jim's newly rebellious attitude lands him in trouble at school and it is left open ended if Dean is just a figment of an over- imaginative teenage brain.This is a slight coming of age story with a jagged tonal shift in the latter part of the film. It is a little bit weird and off kilter but really does not amount to much.

A lonely teenagers life is transformed upon the arrival of his American next door neighbour. This is a very quirky dark comedy that will not appeal to everyone. After a relatively sluggish start setting up the situation things pick up with the arrival of mysterious American Emile Hirsch. Emile Hirsch is great and Craig Roberts who bears an uncanny resemblance and acting style to Martin Freeman is also superb as the unpopular kid trying to improve his social standing. Despite the good acting this is a hit and miss affair. There are some good ideas here and some good scenes but too many of them fall flat. The pacing isn't great and it seems to bounce from place to place without any real direction. Overall this isn't a bad film it's just a bit too way out there for my taste and I doubt I'd watch it again.

"I am depressed" from protagonist Jim, especially after the introduction of Emile Hirsch's kitschy cool foil, was probably unnecessary and a bit much. Up to that point, the film uses what it has to build this well balanced psychology: the trauma experienced as a victim of bullying and the subsequent introversion (spoiler free Brother Yee called it from the trailer), which in and of itself can be embraced rather than be seen as a responsive crutch to the act of bullying itself. Roberts never loses sight of this though and rides this one out nicely, even if his character is, at times, overshadowed/muddied by Hirsch's gratuitous performance. Overall, if you're a fan of teenage angst, Gen Y self-conscious, self-depreciative dialogue, and a good eye for shots and rendering, then there's plenty to smile – and laugh with in Just Jim.

I was lucky enough to see this premier at SXSW but didn't have any background information around the film so really did not know what to expect. In many ways I was glad as I was immediately swept into a world that Craig had created and the impression of the film has stayed with me since.This is a hugely talented guy; writing, acting and directing a feature length film at the age of twenty-four.An immediate summary of the film is 'cult classic'. This is a film that needs to be seen and without a doubt will be pegged up with some of the best independent British movies made in this decade.I found out after the premier that Craig chose to film this movie in his home town, using locations that he grew up in, such as his school and local hangouts. This explained the deep level of authenticity the film exudes at pretty much every turn.As expected, Craig's performance is outstanding, as is Emile's. The juxtaposition of Dean (Emile), a flamboyant and worldly American, pitched against introverted and quiet Jim (Craig), and dropped into a quite Welsh town, works brilliantly and constantly engages you through the 'Wannabe' storyline.The other characters in the film develop quickly and you immediately gain an affinity to them. Some of them are only on screen for seconds, but you instantly gauge their purpose and they influence your thinking.The best way I can describe this film is to think: Dead Man's Shoes meets Fight Club.