It has just now really hit me that the decade is finally coming to a close. That ten years of my life has passed in what seems like a heartbeat. It has been ten years and yet no one still has come up with a name for this decade; the double-Os, The Zeroes, the None-ties. I put my hat in the ring now and declare we should call this decade the Seymour Hoffmansies. Let’s face it, this diverse actor started his decade playing a scruffy brash music critic who mentors a young man to make life-altering decisions in Almost Famous. And now at the close of the decade, he plays a scruffy brash music jockey who mentors a young man to make life-altering decisions in Pirate Radio. In between, he has been nominated for three Oscars, won once, played in every kind of film possible and still doesn’t take himself too seriously. If that isn’t a qualifier, I don’t know what is.

Pirate Radio, formerly known as The Boat That Rocked (In my opinion a much better title), is the newest love child from Richard Curtis, whose mainstream love stories have been his bread and butter. But here, he’s doing sort of the same thing, but instead of a love story between two people, it’s a love story between the people of the U.K. and Rock and Roll. Of course if you have a love story, you have to have an evil force keeping the lovers apart. And what better villain than the up-tight British Parliament, who have kept Rock off the mainstream stations, which are dedicated to news and classical music. And if there is a villain, you have to have a hero, and who better than a bunch of scruffy hippies and outcasts on a ship in International waters, broadcasting Rock and Roll to the masses out of the reach of England’s clasps. But the government won’t stop until they have made Rock and Roll illegal. And who better to find that solution than Kenneth Brannagh?

But the movie is more interested in the antics of the pirates, lead by the flamboyant owner Quentin (Bill Nighy) and the American madman of the airwaves The Count (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). We are introduced to Radio Rock through the eyes of Quentin’s teenage godson, who is on-board after being kicked out of school. You might think that a bunch of rock lovers would have deep thoughtful conversations about music, but you’d be wrong. They seems to enjoy goofing off around the boat on their off-air time in the tradition of Animal House and M*A*S*H. We get tons of music, lots of smoking and a little sex. The comedy is entirely episodic and seems only to have an excuse to listen to some great old-time rock. When the government finally does find the way to shut them up, I was pretty sure that their decisions as to what to do were more out of wanting to keep goofing around than for any noble ideal.

And while think this movie is simple mindless fun (and came in very useful trying to get over the suffering put on me by Precious), I cannot deny that those who hate the movie are not without some merit. Yes, this movie has no bite nor insight. It is rather just a silly little flick with a couple of one-liners and little more. To me, this is more a party than a film, one that I would love to put on for a few friends and sing and laugh along with the antics.

And who wouldn’t want to party along with Nighy, Hoffman, Nick Frost who really does make the best of his role,  Rhys Darby from Flight of the Corcords, and a few special cameos. This is definitely a comedy-first kind of movie that doesn’t push limits or even tests them. But who wants to attempt to break the festive mood?

But let’s get back to Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I wonder why he decided to take this part. Was it the same cosmic forces that brought him his other work? Did he know that the universe aligned themselves with each role he took from Punch-Drunk Love to Mission:Impossible 3 to The Savages? It just couldn’t be that he wanted to make a fun little picture, not someone whose performances have redefined an entire decade! Doesn’t anyone else see that Seymor Hoffman and Serene Harmony both start with the same letters! This was the decade of enlightmenment and it slipped through our fingers!

But all kidding aside, as far as I can tell, this does close the book on Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s incredible decade of work, a consummate actor who deserves the title with honor.  While Pirate Radio isn’t going to be getting him any accolades, I think he’s earned a break between Doubt, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, and his serious work. It reminds us that he is a joy just to watch being goofy and fun. We smile along with him and are excited when he gets worked up.

All in all, this is really a silly little movie that you should enjoy (especially if you’ve just seen the extremely depressing Precious) if you are looking for a little breathing room. But grab a friend, get a drink or two and sing along with The Kinks, The Who, and The Stones. Laugh like you have nothing better to do and be merry. It’s the holiday season, my friends. Why not share a cup of cheer (and whisky) with a bunch of hippies on a boat?