Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) is a whimsical, bittersweet coming-of-age tale set on a small New England island in the mid-1960s. Twelve-year-old misfit Sam, a Khaki Scout and orphan, and Suzy, a quietly intense girl from a troubled suburban household, have spent a year exchanging secret letters and fall in love. One September they run away together into the island’s scrub and shorelines, armed with scout skills and a trunk of supplies. Their disappearance sparks a frantic, oddly earnest search: the scoutmaster, the local police captain, anxious parents, social services and troop members fan out across the island as a violent storm approaches. Watching the film you’ll get more than the plot: it’s a carefully stylized experience. Visuals are highly composed and pastel-tinged, with Wes Anderson–like symmetry and miniature diorama charm; scenes feel both storybook and precisely theatrical. The humor is dry, deadpan and often comes from the adults’ bewildered, over-serious reactions. Underneath the comedy is a sincere, melancholic current — a tender examination of loneliness, escape, loyalty and first love — so the movie often shifts between whimsical fun and quietly aching emotion. Expect an ensemble cast of eccentric, memorable characters, playful period detail, punctuated moments of suspense (the approaching storm, the race to find the kids) and a soundtrack that heightens both the innocence and the melancholy. Overall it’s a warm, oddball romance: visually distinctive, emotionally resonant, and equal parts charming and rueful. Fans of stylized storytelling, nostalgic 1960s atmosphere, and bittersweet, offbeat romances will especially enjoy it.

Actors: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis

Director: Wes Anderson

Runtime: 94 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

5.8 /10 84 /100 7.8 /10 7.3 /10