12-year-old misfits Suzy (Kara Hayward) and Sam (Jared Gilman) run off together to the titular part of the island, and everyone goes looking for them: Suzy's parents, Walt and Laura Bishop (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), Scout Master Ward (Ed Norton), his Cousin Ben (Jason Schwartzman), police Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), Commander Pierce (Harvey Keitel), and Social Services (Tilda Swinton) who comically only refers to herself as "Social Services".
Suzy and Sam hike, camp, fish, and kiss, as if in a child-friendly version of "The Blue Lagoon". Though their awkwardness can be sweet, many of these scenes put the dead in deadpan. You might find yourself rooting for the adults to catch them, just to see more of the supporting cast, which is extensive but underdeveloped.
When an approaching storm hits, the lightning and rain seem torn out of the fantasy books that Suzy is always reading. And there is plenty of expected eccentricity and absurdity. Though at times it can feel gratuitous and precious. When someone uses a bullhorn to talk to their family, it's funny. But it would be funnier if it didn't seem to happen just because this is a Wes Anderson movie.
There is an uneven and abandoned side-story romance between Laura Bishop and Captain Sharp. Another rough edge is the sporadic narrator (Bob Balaban) who also is the spirit of the island and sometimes interacts with the other characters.
At a time when CGI summer blockbusters are beating us senselessly over the head, Anderson's more deft sensibility is something of a minor miracle. The meticulous sets and perfectly framed shots are a triumph of craftsmanship over spectacle. At least it would be, if "Moonrise Kingdom" didn't so often stop to admire itself.
| Movie title | Moonrise Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2012 |
| MPAA Rating | PG-13 |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Though it takes place on a fictional island, this coming-of-age, dysfunctional family movie from Wes Anderson may feel like familiar territory. |
