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A fan of Richard Curtis, I am. The long time writer of the Mr. Bean series (of which I’m not really a fan) has recently taken to directing as well as writing, churning out one of my favorite comedies of the past few years. I am referring, of course, to 2003′s Love Actually, one of the sweetest and most endearingly fun films in recent history, holiday themed or otherwise. Curtis is currently putting the finishing touches on his second directorial work, The Boat that Rocked, an ensemble comedy about a group of rogue DJs that captivated Britain in the 60s, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that, incomprehensibly, preferred jazz.

The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a big, brash, American god of the airwaves; Quentin (Bill Nighy), the boss of Radio Rock — a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea that’s populated by an eclectic crew of rock and roll DJs; Gavin (Rhys Ifans) , the greatest DJ in Britain who has just returned from his drug tour of America to reclaim his rightful position; Dave (Nick Frost), an ironic, intelligent and cruelly funny co-broadcaster; and a fearsome British government official (Kenneth Branagh) out for blood against the drug takers and lawbreakers of a once-great nation.

The film, which was written by Curtis, will also star the likes of Emma Thompson, Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby and Mad Men’s January Jones.

The Boat that Rocked is set for release in the U.S. on April 30, 2009.

Our good friend Christopher M. has been watching out for this one. He dropped me a line earlier this evening with a link to Filmz.ru, where the film’s first trailer can be found. I’ve got a feeling that once you give it a look below you too will be on board with this comedy. I know I am.

[flv:http://media.filmschoolrejects.com/trailers/boat-that-rocked-trailer.flv 598 318]