Starring: Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman, Erin Moriarty.
The Kings of Summer, is the feel-good movie that follows three boys who run away to build a home in the woods.
Honestly, this film was one of the best films I've watched all year. It's never going to be an Oscar winning movie but it had all the right qualities to make it an excellent Sundance contender. The Kings of Summer had comedy, romance, friendship and the most beautiful cinematography I have seen in a while.
Set in the middle of the woods, somewhere in America, we see a story surrounded by yellow fields, a sea of trees and serene rivers. Paired with hues of yellow and a summer dazed filter, the images created were captivating.
Not only were the colours and scenery mesmerising but the shots captured and the way they were choreographed were outstanding. The shots were so quirky and comedic while others were very emotive and sincere.
Although the film started off slow, there were many familiar faces that kept me going - such as, Alison Brie from community and Hannibal Buress the comedian and Broad City actor.
The acting and cast as a whole was very well conceived. Nick Robinson, better known as Ryder in television show Melissa and Joey, gave an excellent performance as the main character and suited the role perfectly. Moises Arias, who played part of the trio, added a unique, humorous and quirky edge to the group dynamic which definitely worked well with the average-ness of the other two members of the trio.
The film's actual plot wasn't groundbreaking and not something I thought too much of. The Kings of Summer to me, was something I watched more for the emotions, actions, locations and cinematography rather than the narrative or plot. I imagine if you were of a younger age, that this film would be very iconic and dreamy to watch.
Cinematography aside, the soundtrack to this film was something that also really struck out to me. The songs used very perfectly matched the teenage theme of the film. The film features the likes of Youth Lagoon, MGMT and Thin Lizzy. The movie ends with 'Youth Lagoon - Seventeen' which I feel worked so well and encompassed the whole meaning of the film and was a profound touch to add.
The Kings of Summer, was a very similar watch to Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson but more real life rather than fantasy. So if you're into films like that, then this is a good choice for you. My advice also would be to watch closer to summer or a trip away, to really feel the atmosphere that the film creates.
Overall, the films combination of summer vibes, teenage angst, romance, comedy and great cinematography and shots, produce an amazing and warm movie that makes you either reminisce over your youth or make you want plan a summer trip just like theirs.
