Ah, this takes me back. Do you remember that time in 7th grade when I quit the boy scouts and ran off with the weird girl I found paying a raven in a local playhouse production about Noah’s Ark who dresses like Margot Tenenbaum and has severe anger issues? Who doesn’t?
When you go to the money people and say you want to make a romance film between two twelve-year-olds set in the 60s on an island near Nova Scotia, what do you suppose they say? “Here, have $10 million.”? “And two actors we’ve never heard of for your leads? Why didn’t you tell us? Here’s $20 million.”
Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) are in love … yaaaaaay. But they’re 12. Booooo. He’s in the scouts. The Khaki Scouts. That by itself would bring me to this film. They’re a normal Boy Scout troop, I suppose, except that they’re still doing full time scouting stuff in September. Um, fellas? Did they not have school in 1965? Gee, maybe they didn’t. The 
venue is a small and sparsely populated island. You get the feeling that in the telling of the tale, you probably have met at least 80% of the population. The opening is very well put together – Scout Master (Edward Norton) striding from one end of camp to another, addressing issues in gracefully plotted succession – it’s like that Old Spice commercial: “I’m on a horse” except it’s all scouting silliness. The scene ends with the not-unlike-Shawshank (non) discovery of Sam. “Jiminy Cricket, he flew the coop.”
Hence, Wes Anderson Adventureworld 2012 (a.k.a. Moonrise Kingdom) begins. There is no denying this man has a fantastic sense of style. From the treehouse atop a flagpole to the library selection Suzy takes along to run away with Sam, every single detail, prop and setting has been debated and assessed. When the remaining scouts decide on their plan, they in unison agree to bring weapons. Why? “I’m not gonna be the one to not have a weapon when we meet him.” Just roll with it. The stick with rusty nails protruding from the sweet spot was an especially nice touch; I haven’t one of those since Escape from New York.
There’s an almost eerily voyeuristic quality to the relationship of these kids. As an adult, you feel creepy watching them strip and kiss. Yet it’s necessary. The details of the romance have undergone the same scrutiny as the props. Sam needs to be an orphan; Suzy needs to have a hot temper. Without these small touches, the couple is unbelievable and the Noah’s Ark theme falls flat.
Bruce Willis as Noah? ‘Nuff said.
How were the kids? I think Jared Gilman has a future (at least in Wes Anderson pics), but I’m especially excited about Kara Hayward. She has quite an Emma Roberts vibe to her. You can do worse than remind folks of Emma Roberts. A lot worse.
And, oh yeah, the film also had great roles for Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton. You know, Wes’ Homies. And, great as they are, Moonrise Kingdom is the better film for none of them chewing scenery.
Rated PG-13, 94 Minutes
D: Wes Anderson
W: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
Genre: Wes Anderson
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Nostalgic romantics
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Shotgun wielding fathers
