King Of The World
In theaters this Friday, May 31, The Kings of Summer was, simply put, wonderful. It’s not your average summer movie: there are no superheroes, no car chases, and no wild exploits in Las Vegas. Instead, Kings of Summer has a whole lot of heart, while still managing a tone of dry wit and humor that can only be described as superb.
The story of three high school aged boys who dream of breaking free from the soul crushing weight of suburban life with decidedly “uncool” parents, Kings of Summer is both funny and poignant. It’s undeniably a coming of age story, but without the usual clichés and pitfalls that plague the genre.
When longtime friends Patrick and Joe embark on their mission to create a new life in the woods, they, at first reluctantly,take along Biaggio, a rather scrawny, slightly unhinged, and unintentionally hilarious classmate with them. Together, the three boys create their own life and live off the land, albeit with a little help from Boston Market. Together they weather storms, broken hearts, broken friendships, the challenges and risks of living in the forest.
What elevates The Kings of Summer from a run of the mill indie coming of age story to a film well worth searching out to see is the casting. Nick Robinson and Gabriel Basso’s easy banter and chemistry keeps their backstory as long time best friends Joe and Patrick fresh and relatable. Moises Arias’ turn as the absurd, yet loyal to a fault, Biaggio is both laugh out loud funny and heartwarming. Nick Offerman shines as Frank, Joe’s sardonic, sarcastic, widower father who desperately wants to connect with his son. Megan Mullaly’s turn as Patrick’s well-intentioned and overbearing mom will nearly reduce you to tears with her doting mother routine. From the main roles to the smallest supporting role, Kings of Summer is supremely well casted and acted. The chemistry between the actors allows their banter and wit to really shine.
The Kings of Summer is funny and surprisingly moving. It’s more than just a story about three boys running away to the woods. It’s about the relationship between friends, parents and their children. It’s about coping with loss- loss of life, love, freedom, and youth. It’s quite a heavy message to carry, but Kings of Summer manages to juggle all these ideas seamlessly, with a bit of dry wit and absurdist comic relief. It forces you to contemplate your own youth, yet simultaneously keep you hoping that Biaggio will get his own spin-off show one day. I know I would watch it, and after seeing The Kings of Summer, I’m sure you would too.
Grade: A+