Dir. Wes Anderson (trailer)
Moonrise Kingdom is one of Wes Anderson's most quirky yet delightful films, creating a coming-of-age Bonnie and Clyde style tale that all takes place in a 1960s small New England town. Starring many of Anderson's usual collaborators' Bill Murray, Edward Norton, and Jason Schwartzman, plus Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, and Lucas Hedges this film uses Anderson's sensibilities to capture the everyday anxieties of growing up.
The film revolves around the summer romance of two 12-year-olds who both consider themselves to be mature and ready to leave their homes to go out into the world. Sam is an orphan and hates his foster parents and dreams of running away, when he meets Suzy at a local play, they begin corresponding and soon decide to runaway together, living off the land in a near by wooded area. While the young couple hides out in the woods, Sam's Scout Troop begrudgingly sets out to find him, lead by Scout Master Ward (Norton).
Like all typical Wes Anderson films, the film is filled with off-the-wall comedy and beautiful pastel colors, but also has a dark side to it. Sam's life as an orphan has been an unhappy one, causing his fellow scouts to dislike him for his misanthropy. Even though Sam can sometimes be an unlikable character, the audience still feels bad for him when a mysterious woman (Tilda Swinton) comes to take him to an ominously named "Juvenile Refuge" program.
Moonrise Kingdom is a fun romp through the New England landscape that features an ensemble cast and highly recommend it to fans of coming-of-age stories and indie films.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for fans of: comedy, Submarine (2010), historical/period pieces, The Way Way Back (2013), Eighth Grade (2018)
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