Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts.
Starring: Moises Arias, Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Megan Mullally, Erin Moriarty, Mary Lynn Rajskub.
Running Time: 93 minutes.
Synopsis: On the verge of adolescence, Joe Toy (Nick Robinson) finds himself increasingly frustrated by his single father, Frank’s (Nick Offerman) attempts to manage his life. Declaring his freedom once and for all, he escapes to a clearing in the woods with his best friend, Patrick (Gabriel Basso), and a strange kid named Biaggio (Moises Arias). Announcing that they are going to build a house there, free from responsibility and parents, the three young men find themselves masters of their own destiny, alone in the woods.
Coming of age films have been plagued by a bunch of releases where the teenagers are outrageously out of control, but THE KINGS OF SUMMER looks at the type of behavior that everyone has experienced during their life – the idea of running away and being able to live without adults. However, this is on a much bigger scale, with our protagonist Joe Toy suggesting that he and his best friend build a house in the middle of the forest and live like real men. Patrick reluctantly agrees, and with the help of their enigmatic friend Biaggio, the boys manage to build a decent looking house.
The premise may not be the most original in the world, but this debut from screenwriter Chris Galletta is the freshest take on the genre to come along in a while. Jordan Vogt-Roberts takes the hipster music montage that has become the forefront of indie flicks and gives it a novel twist that actually enhances the plot rather than just making it look pretty.
The leading cast make the film, with Robinson, Basso and Arias pushing the bonds of friendship onscreen and each translating as a person we recognise from our own lives, with the wonderfully bizarre Biaggio providing the most comical and brave moments from the trio. We grasp the sense of why Joe and Patrick ran away from their parents, but it would have been nice to see more of Alison Brie as Joe’s sister, Heather, who brings sanity to the film.
The type of story that gets you right in the gut and has you longing to grasp onto being a teenager for as long as you can, THE KINGS OF SUMMER is a heartwarming, truly perfect coming of age tale.
THE SUNDANCE LONDON FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL RUNS FROM 25-28 APRIL AT THE O2. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TICKETS VISIT http://www.sundance-london.com
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