Putting him at 14/15 would have worked seamlessly. Strange call on the director's part to cast such a young kid.
Om Mani Padme Hum

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The only questionable casting was the girl who played his girlfriend
But did you not see the +40 year old man who were hanging with these lads?
It makes more sense that they'd look out for a bullied outcast young'n than kick it with a man more than twice their age and who seemed like quite the perv as well
You gave yourself a name. I gave mine up.

I thought that the movie was loosely based on the director's youth. So if he went through these things at the age of twelve, the main character should be about twelve years old. Well, they could've changed it in the movie of course, but then again, if you're looking for a socially correct movie, you shouldn't be looking here.

I agree with you. Their age difference kinda hurts

But why? Why would you change a somewhat significant part of the story, just because..?
The age difference? The difference of size? I don't get it. My first girlfriend was 16 and I was 12, and it was absolute heaven.

We had youngsters like him hanging around all the time.

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Shaun was 12 in the film and Smell was 16. When they talked about her being "legal" they meant the age of consent, not the drinking age. The age of consent in the UK is 16. I believe the actress was still 15 at the time of filming and Thomas Turgoose was 13. They joked in the commentary that the age gap wasn't actually as big as it looked on screen. They were just at that age where one kid has shot up and looks quite adult and the other is still small and childlike on the cusp of adolescence.
My little brother is less than two years younger than me. There's a photo of us standing together when he was 14 and I was 16 and I am a whole head taller than him. Then there's a photo taken a year later and he's a whole head taller than me!
It's still a little squicky and supposed to be, I think. But not as much as people think when they believe Shaun is 10 and Smell 18-20!

The actor who played Shaun was 14, the character is suppsed to be 12
The girl who played Smell was 17.

''no, i thought the older girl fit perfectly in the story, quit being so prudish''
you wouldn't be saying that if it was a young looking girl and an older fella, it's not been prudish-it's been appropriate.

older tits are definitely more traumatic.. i mean, the difference between my 17 year old tits and my 37 year old tits is traumatic to ME.. i can't imagine what they would do to an impressionable 12 year old!

"At 12 Shaun was not supposed to suck anyone's tits, the law doesn't consider him ready. But if he does it and he and another person are breaking the law, what difference does it make if the person is 5 years old or 10 years older or 30 years older. Are older tits more dangerous? Are older tits more traumatic? "
Dude, you got issues.
If someone is only 5 years older than a 12 year old and engaging in this activity, then maybe an argument can be raised about sexual naivety.
I think you'll find there is a big difference between that and someone 10, 20 or 30 years older. They are adults and have a responsibility towards kids. In the UK, the crime would be statutory rape if someone over the age of consent has sex with someone under, however consenting it may actually or be perceived to be.

Shaun is mentioned as being twelve in the film and 'Smell' had her eighteenth birthday during the film didn't she? This does seem quite an age gap - I can only wish I even stood a chance with an eighteen-year-old when I was twelve! (mind you, I'd have been terrified at that prospect and run a mile!..then) - and maybe unrealistic, if not unlikely.
I think they should have changed her age to 14-15. That is a big difference enough in maturity - physically and mentally - to a 12 year old.
What if everyone started telling the truth?

When they say "you're legal now" I believe that meant she turned 16, the age of consent, not 18.
Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!

No I think the actor was just the right choice he was very good in this film.
Looking forward to seeing 86 and 88 next.
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Shaun character was 12 and Smell character was 17 as she turns 18 a few months later into the movie

Shaun was supposed to be 13 and smell was supposed to be 15 at that age, you are right a couple of years makes a BIG difference. Always find it cringey watching that scene but Turgoose loved it apparently wanting to do takes over and over!
We'll sing and dance and we'll find romance and we'll stroll to the edge of the world

Sexual consent laws don't apply to boys, only to girls. Therefore it is perfectly legal for a 16/17 year girl to have sex with a 12 year old boy, but if an 18 year old woman has sex with a 12 year boy she can be convicted of sexual abusebut not for breaking consent laws.

Also, I don't thing the age of one's partner matter at all
In fact I have never seen a proper argument as for why the age of one's partner should matter.
The age of consent law says that before a certain age people can't have sexual experiences. So that means the persone isn't supposed to have sexual contact with anyone, regardless of age.
But once the physical or sexual contact happens, really what's the difference between a 17 year old a 27 year old or a 40 year old?
At 12 Shaun was not supposed to suck anyone's tits, the law doesn't consider him ready. But if he does it and he and another person are breaking the law, what difference does it make if the person is 5 years old or 10 years older or 30 years older. Are older tits more dangerous? Are older tits more traumatic?
And in such a circumstance wouldn't personality matter more than age?
Shaun is shy and a bit scared. Wouldn't it better for something to happen with a timid and scared 22 year old girl than an aggressive and and experienced 16 year old?
It really doesn't matter any sense to focus so much on age difference. Law never mentions age difference, just the age one is supposed to be ready to consent to sexual acts.

Movies are not made to reflect your tastes and moralities.
Movies are made to tell a story of certain characters.
This was a story of a 12 year old hooking up with a 33 year old and dating a 18 year old. Either you like it or not but we're not supposed to watch stories that tell things the way we want or match our preconceptions and our world view.

To each their own then. Man the girl is far to big for him though, in my opinion! It looks like a 16 yr old and a 12 yr old, which is just strange! Anyway a decent movie I thought.

no, i thought the older girl fit perfectly in the story, quit being so prudish

I think 14 could work but besides the girl thing, I don't think there's anything wrong with his age in the film.