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Here's a look at my full review for "Moonrise Kingdom."


Moonrise Kingdom
Starring: Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Kara Hayward, and Jared Gilman
Synopsis: Wes Anderson films are an acquired taste. He is great at creating original characters that are dynamic and featured in quirky, endearing worlds. His films don’t feel like real life, but that’s the point. They are a fun escape. How you feel about Anderson and his films likely depends on what you’re looking for in the film. Connecting to the characters is key in appreciating his work. For me, “Moonrise Kingdom” is Anderson’s best film. It’s also the kind of quirky, endearing break we need during this summer of uneven blockbusters and lackluster attempts at offering entertainment. It is a quiet, darling gem that breaks up the sea of loud, expensive, and over-wrought releases in recent weeks. The film centers on a pair of outcasts that have hatched a plan to make a romantic rendezvous. What makes the pairing unique is they are both around junior high age, and they escape on the cusp of a big storm set to hit a sleepy little island off the East Coast. Sam (Jared Gilman) is an orphan who is spending the summer at a scouting camp run by Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton). He’s a quiet loner who has some issues, so he’s not popular at camp. In fact, when he goes missing, it takes a bit for Ward to realize he has disappeared. Soon, Ward contacts the local policeman, Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), to start a search of the island. Sam doesn’t turn up and, soon enough, another little girl goes missing. Suzy (Kara Hayward) is also a bit of an outcast, living on the island with her parents — Walt (Bill Murray) and Laura (Frances McDormand) — who are both lawyers. Suzy’s parents don’t get along well, a fact that’s compounded by Laura’s affair with Captain Sharp. Suzy decides to make a break and meet up with Sam, which is all part of a plan the pair hatched via written correspondence. As a storm nears the island, the search for Suzy and Sam intensifies. Along the way, all the adults on the island are forced to face their own issues as well. Characters are the heart and soul of any Wes Anderson film. The adult characters in this film are charming, and there are some great performances. Willis, in particular, could easily earn a Best Supporting Actor nomination and I wouldn’t be surprised. But for as decorated as the adult actors and characters are, it’s the young performers that make the film. Hayward and Gilman are charming. They pick up the quirky dialogue and pacing well, and are asked to carry important parts of the film. They play off each other and the other adult characters well, and do a great job carrying the narrative. There are a lot of other fun performances as well. Murray — a long-time Anderson veteran — does a great job in his role, and McDormand is charming in her role as well. Additionally there are supporting characters that pop up and add color to the film. Bob Balaban is great as the narrator, Harvey Keitel has some funny moments as the Scout Troop Commander, Tilda Swinton is perfect as Social Services, and Jason Schwartzman — also an Anderson veteran — is hilarious as Cousin Ben. But, really, all these films come down to the unique comedy stylings of Anderson and his collaborators — in this case co-writer Roman Coppola. The dialogue is perfect, the beats are subtly brilliant, and the story is warm-hearted. It is, ultimately, a love story, like so many of Anderson’s films. “Moonrise Kingdom” isn’t for everyone. It’s off-beat, quirky, and relies on subtlety and satire. Not everyone will appreciate the style of story telling or the pace of the film. But for those that like their comedy dry, and their stories with a bit of flair, this is the perfect kind of summer treat. It’s well-made, well-crafted, and endearing. And that’s more than you can say for most of the films released in 2012.
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, July 13 — "Ice Age: Continental Drift"
Friday, July 20 — "The Dark Knight Rises"
Friday, July 27 — "The Watch," "Step Up Revolution"

Verdict: Three stars out of four.