The Kings of Summer

Why live when you can rule.

Joe Toy, on the verge of adolescence, finds himself increasingly frustrated by his single father, Frank's 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, and a strange kid named Biaggio. He announces that they are going to build a house there, free from responsibility and parents. Once their makeshift abode is finished, the three young men find themselves masters of their own destiny, alone in the woods.


A quirky and sweet coming of age tale. It starts off a bit slowly, and there aren’t really any surprises or twists, but it is in the end simply a fun flick. Enjoy it for the overall experience, not for the details of the storyline. The three leads are doing a great job and especially Moises Arias is cast well as the weirdo – I felt he came across much better here than for instance in Ender’s Game; not easy as his role is completely over the top yet he makes it feel natural. Nick Offerman also is on good form here.

Watch it to relive every teenage boy’s dream of escaping from their parents. And why most actually never do.

 

  • Does it have a hook? Not really.
  • Is it entertaining? Yes.
  • Should you watch it? Sure, if you are in the mood for a light and fun movie. Get your teens to watch it too.

 

Cinematography: The movie is shot well – there are bits that are beautiful to watch on the big screen.
Soundstage: It could be more immersive, but the soundtrack is well designed and subtly complementary to the visuals and storyline.