Remember your first crush in junior high school (maybe it was elementary school). At the time, it wasn't a crush, was it? You really thought ... No! Knew it was love! Moonrise Kingdom is about two such youths Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward). They're misfits in their own weird way. Sam is an orphan, Suzy a rebel in a typical American family. They acquaint themselves as pen pals and decide to meet after eloping from their respective summer vacations. While they're on the run, he cooks her a piece of grilled fish and she reads him a book at bedtime. As their relationship blossoms, a hunt for them ensues.
Moonrise Kingdom is a Wes Anderson film through and through - the quirky humor, the deadpan humor, and amidst the humor a more sincere theme will rear its head. Trust Wes Anderson to come up with metaphors which might distract you long after you've left the theater. Sample this: the house that Suzy lives in is called Summer's End, she owns a book titled Disappearance of the 6th Grade, her parents own a book titled Coping with a Troubled Child. Good luck finding those books on Amazon by the way!
In terms of acting, the film clearly belongs to Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. Of the established cast, it's good to see Bruce Willis (Captain Sharp) not beating the crap out of someone. The rest of the cast have their moments too.
Watch it if you liked: other Wes Anderson movies
Check it out at the Cedar Lee!
With all that having been said, do you think Moonrise would appeal to the fairweather Anderson fan?
Jason: I'm not that big a fan of Wes Anderson myself. I could not finish watching Royal Tenenbaums. I practically slept through Darjeeling Limited. Fantastic Mr. Fox was mostly good (especially "what the cuss"). I thought Moonrise Kingdom was better than all of the above. Again, I'm no Wes Anderson expert. I just watch movies. And this one was a fun watch.