Review of Captain Fantastic (2016) by Orlando O — 30 Nov 2016

Captain Fantastic is a thought provoking family drama film that centers on a family that lives isolated away from society. The film follows Ben (Viggo Mortenson) who lives in the forest, isolated away from society. And chooses to live a life with his children and raising them to become survivalists and philosophy. They manage to hunt their own food and grow their own crops. They do a lot of physical training from self defense, climbing, and cardio. Ben also teaches his children from quantum mechanics, languages, reading, and a theme of philosophy. Their mother commits suicide from being diangosed with bipolar. Ben and his family are going to travel across the states to attend her funeral ceremony. Which her father disapproves of Bens lifestyle and the way he raises his children.

Captain Fantastic is at times beautiful, sad, and thought moving with the concept of Bens personality. With having his children distant from society and their education being more advance with his teachings. They do lack the human connections with encountering other people. That was the interesting thing about the film which made the viewing entertaining. Their was moments when it was awkwardly funny. And the sad part of seeing the children wanting to be normal in society. Bens disllusioned about capitalism is everywhere, keeps him away from the rest of society. There was a scene of how he reacted negatively about a restaurants menu. Or his teen son seeing another girl and awkwardly trying to talk to her. The film is quite entertaining to see this family traveling, and coming across a grocery store and to steal food that they needed.

Viggo Mortenson performance is impressive. The rest of his children that is played by young unknown actors and actress were all talented as well.

I felt like the films music score was underused and should have been used more to enhance the slow moving family drama. Could have worked well when seeing a family that lives isolated in the nature of the forest. Captain Fantastic has the talented cast, entertaining aspect of a family lifestyle that puts a spin twist of a dramatic film.