You always know what you are going to get in a Wes Anderson
film; quirky characters, deadpanned deliveries, unique sense of color, and a
recurring cast which usually includes Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. His
newest, MOONRISE KINGDOM, certainly has all of that and a little bit more. The
question going into it is if Anderson’s trademarked style actually serves a
purpose other than letting us know that this is a Wes Anderson film.
Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) are two
adolescent lovers who decide to run away together. They are pursued by Sam’s
scoutmaster (Ed Norton), the police chief (Bruce Willis), Social Services
(Tilda Swinton), and Suzy’s parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), while
in the meantime a hurricane bears down on the island.
MOONRISE KINGDOM is Wes Anderson’s take on the Romeo and
Juliet story; it is the tale of two young lovers being pursued by other forces
bent on keeping them apart. A bit familiar, yes. But here it really works.
KINGDOM is written in such a way that the two main characters of Sam and Suzy
are not just naïve children; they both come from troubled backgrounds which has
given them an adult perspective on life. Through a series of clever flashbacks,
their stories are very well fleshed out, and it is a simple and joyful thing to
root for them both.
Anderson’s unique style is well suited for this type of
story. There is a genuine feeling of heart and soul through it all, and even
the characters which are in a villainous role are fun to get wrapped up in. There
is a visual brilliance constantly at work; the film is a marvel to look at but
at the same time it magically reveals Anderson’s (and his character’s) view at
the world. MOONRISE KINGDOM is also Anderson’s most daring; the two 13-year old
lovers perform a few things on camera which may shock and/or upset a few
people. It’s innocent enough, but also new territory for Anderson.
The cast is outstanding not only in name, but in
performance. Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward somehow manage to have great
chemistry together for a couple of sprats. The best part about the ensemble
cast is that everyone really seems to embrace their roles. Bruce Willis
disappears into a nerdy policeman, and Ed Norton has no problem wearing
nut-hugger hiker shorts. Extended cameos by Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, and
Jason Schwartzman are quite pleasant and never feel distracting.
The finale flirts with a true Romeo and Juliet tragedy, only
to pull back and wrap things up happily. It’s a relief that the film does end
on a happy note, for MOONRISE KINGDOM is a film that provokes smiles and charm
from head to tail. Yes, you know it's a Wes Anderson movie, but one that feels fresh and fun. Fantastic film.
BOTTOM LINE: See it
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