Review of The Kings of Summer (2013) by Yash B — 22 Feb 2018

Strengths: This is a pretty relatable tale. Most people can identify with being fed up with their parents during their teenage years. The fact that these characters did something about it makes them endearing, even if the act is selfish. That's what makes the heart of the film work. You feel for every character. From the kids wanting something better, to the parents missing their children. Because these are not bad parents. Frank Toy (Nick Offerman) is a hard-ass, while Mr. and Mrs. Keenan (Marc Evan Jackson and Megan Mullally) were overbearing, but none were mean-spirited. Nick Robinson (Joe Toy) is a good lead, as his chemistry with Gabriel Basso (Patrick) and Erin Moriarty (Kelly) was great. The Monopoly scene where things blow up with Joe and Patrick is fantastic and emotionally driven. Moises Arias (Biaggio) is a hilarious scene stealer and needs to be praised.

Weaknesses: I found myself heavily disappointed with the use of Alison Brie (Heather Toy). She's one of the reasons I was intrigued by the movie, and she barely got used. She's a talented actress and deserved at least another scene with her brother after he returned. It's kind of hard to pick out why I feel this way, but it was strange that this felt like a made for TV movie, in a negative way. Though the premise is fine, the script is also kind of weak, as the dialogue struggles in points.

Overall: A good little indie film, led by a cool setup and some strong performances. It doesn't amount to much more than that, which keeps it from being in the upper echelon of recent indie flicks.