Review of The Kings of Summer (2013) by Leandro D — 10 Dec 2014

There's nothing new about The Kings of Summer. The story, about kids running off from their parents and go live in the wilderness, is not new and has been done before, apart from our childhood fantasies. However, The Kings of Summer has panache galore, which makes it as interesting to watch as it is to nitpick.

First of all, the performances are a definite mixed bag. The Adults (Nick Offerman, Megan Mullaly and Marc Evan Jackson) are hilarious in this film. Offerman pulls off, as well, some intense drama which is extremely surprising. The kids are not as good, and that is a problem considering they are the main focus of the film. Nick Robinson is a handsome boy, but his acting is not nearly as interesting as his body. Gabriel Basso is solid and more believable as Patrick, Joe's Best Friend. They both are sort of after the same girl, Kelly, played by Erin Moriarty, also very pretty but not very good. Last but not least, doofus Biaggio played by Moses Arias in a fearless, facetious role that is unforgettable (From the three kids, by far the most amusing).

The way the story goes is pretty simple. However, it is the way it is told that gets to you. Saying that director Jordan Vogt-Roberts is visually ambitious is underestimating the amount of beauty and gimmicky distinctive style the film has. It is edited in a way to make the fashion more preculiar, all along with a playful soundtrack that mixes 80's video-game-like music with hardcore rap.

In the end, The Kings of Summer is more visually stunning than emotionally resonant. It has moments, however, and those small moments make the film a solid coming-of-age tale.