Review of Captain Fantastic (2016) by Junelkean — 16 Jan 2018

Papa knows best in "Captain Fantastic". This Sundance entry tells the story of a father and his six children whom he has raised in the American wilderness way - learning rock climbing, hunting and survival tactics such as self-defense. So the question is, would it be as fantastic as what the title suggests?

Viggo Mortensen is a vibrant and moving spirit in his once in a lifetime performance as the titular character. But this is also anchored with the talented child performers and supporting cast, whom truly burrow so deeply into their character's personalities.

The movie, although light and uplifting, does not overshadow the thought-provoking themes such as understanding social interaction, child rearing and the raising idealism of youth. Same goes to its balance of nature - it still manages to be somehow witty and at the same time melancholic, thanks largely to its philosophically-heavy dialogue.

VERDICT: With a well-structured screenplay and strong ensemble cast featuring fantastic child performers, Matt Ross has turned a dark comedy into an effective poignant tragedy.