Midlands Review of Rubber Johnny
midlandsmovies • March 25, 2020
Midlands Review of Rubber Johnny
Rubber Johnny
Directed by Matt Williams
2020
Rubber Johnny is a new music-based video from West Midlands animator and film director Matt Williams which tackles a rather serious subject in the most amusing way possible.
Rubber Johnny – a British slang for a condom if you were unaware – is an important thing to learn about in school sex education class and Williams has taken this sensitive and difficult to talk about issue and made a very entertaining short about it.
The film is an animated music video with lyrics related to its use, its history and with an emphasis on bright colours and smiley faces that makes it accessible to a youth audience.
That’s not to say it’s only educational, however. With fantastic vocals from singer Caitlin Johnson and a simple accompanying acoustic guitar, the song is as catchy as hell and has plenty of laugh out loud moments as well.
With the history of animated music videos in mind, from Yellow Submarine by The Beatles to the anime stylings of Daft Punk’s Discovery album, the film has echoes of White Stripes’ Fell in Love with a Girl where a locked off shot was used to show the band playing using child favourite LEGO.
More apt perhaps is Peter Gabriel’s famous Sledgehammer video as Williams has chosen an older ratio (1:1) for his video with the very colourful animation all happening in this one square window.
From inflatable cocks to anthropomorphic smiley-faced condoms, via some real-life footage of trouser zips and plasticine sperm, the sexual connotations are there but always amusing and more importantly never crude or used exploitatively.
In the end, its simplicity is its key factor. A winner for Best Music at the 2020 Midlands Movies Awards, the video displays the lyrics enabling you to sing along to its uber-catchy chorus. “Oh, rubber johnny” will be stuck in your head all day and young people will get entertaining info on where to stick the other thing as well. A superb silly willy of a film.
Michael Sales
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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