At 2007’s Sundance Film Festival, director Garth Jennings (half of the Hammer & Tongs production duo) debuted his new film, the joyously goofy Son of Rambow. Written and produced by Jennings and his partner Nick Goldsmith, the film was several years in the making, having been originally conceived before Garth’s 2005 film directorial debut, Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Son of Rambow follows the story of two British schoolchildren: a trouble making bully and his complete opposite, a small, shy boy raised in a religious sect. After both are exposed to the extreme carnage and violence of the forbidden film Rambo: First Blood, the duo team up to create a homemade version entitled Son of Rambow.

The audience at Sundance described the film as charming, nostalgic, and irresistible. Backed by massive buzz, Paramount Vantage snagged Son of Rambow for a reported $7.5 million, making it one of the biggest purchases at Sundance that year. Many expected the film to go on to do big things, having the widespread appeal of such breakout independent hits as Little Miss Sunshine or Juno. But over a year later, the film still has not seen a release.

According to a recent Variety piece, the reason for the film’s long delay was a snag in the legal system; a dispute filed by the company owning the rights to footage from Rambo: First Blood (which Son of Rambow uses liberally) had tied the film up in legal limbo until just recently. The case has now been dropped and a May 2nd, 2008 release date has been set.

Check out the trailer in Quicktime here.

Son of Rambow opens in limited release in US theatres May 2, 2008.