Moonrise Kingdom Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Moonrise Kingdom

Year: 2012
Director: Wes Anderson
Country: US
Language: English

Rare is there a bad film starring either Frances McDormand  (Fargo) or Bill Murray (Groundhog Day). Even rarer is to see a bad film made by Wes Anderson (Royal Tenenbaums). If you have come to see Moonrise Kingdom to see a bad film, then I question your sanity and assure you that you will be pleasantly disappointed. The mind of Wes Anderson is quite interesting. The way he deals with people, emotions and confrontations is incredibly imaginative and humorous.  Everything that transpires in the world of Moonrise Kingdom  is quite magical and inspiring. It left me in awe, and made me wish I had more adventures as a child. Now I thirst for the adventures I’ve failed to have.

The story is set on the island of Prospero in 1965. I think placing the story in this period in time is very important for the film. It’s before the boom of technology and after the plight of the first two World Wars. It gives us a nostalgic feeling for every living generation, even those born far after the sixties yearn to understand what it was like to live in a “simpler” time. Indeed, perhaps the feeling of simplicity and nostalgia make room for the plentiful emotion that is captured throughout this film.

Strangely, the only people who seem to live on this island are the people involved in the story. Suzy (Kara Hayward) lives with her family in a lighthouse near a scout camp where her boyfriend Sam (Jared Gilman) seems to live.  Sam is an orphan, solemn behind oversized eyeglasses, an expert in scouting and seems to be the most popular kid in his scout camp. Suzy is a troublesome yet innocent dreamer who has a soft spot for books. They both met the previous Summer and have been great pen pals ever since. However, the boredom in their lives has them searching for something for meaningful. So they plot a sort of jailbreak from their lives during which they could have an adventure out from under the thumbs of adults.

Perhaps Wes Anderson is making a strong point with this film. As time goes by children are expected to handle adult responsibilities at a younger and younger age. The boys scout camp is designed to give children adult responsibilities and make them feel like adults yet be treated like children towards everybody else. Therefore any child who acts like a child, Sam, is ridiculed by the seemingly more “responsible” children. Anderson shows us the beauty of being a child, the ability to go on amazing adventures without a care in the world. Anderson shows us the innocence of being a child. Sam & Suzy’s love is pure and simple, unlike the “love” between the adults. Anderson also shows us the ridiculousness of adults who try to give their children too much responsibility. Sam is an orphan child, when he leaves the camp his foster parent says he is no longer welcome. Sam is not an adult who can survive on his own, he needs  an adult...or does he? In Moonrise Kingdom it seems like the children know how to survive better than the adults.

Bill Murray, Anderson’s go to guy, is the perfect example in this film of an adult who needs to get in touch with his child side. His eyes, his rather old eyes, look upon the world with concern, melancholy and disappointment. The film seems to be about the melancholy of adulthood, the joy of childhood. Sam’s escape seems like a brave attempt to be rid of the responsibilities that lie ahead. The island Sam is on is not a large island but he uses his knowledge to build quite an extraordinary hiding spot. One on a cove, which they call “Moonrise Kingdom”. They sit side by side with youthful innocence, understanding that maturity and possible melancholy is around the corner.

In conclusion, Moonrise Kingdom seems to remind us to not forget our youth. To not get caught up in adult life and to let ourselves be free once in a while. There is still time for innocent romance, there is still time for great adventures. We MUST not let ourselves be overcome with responsibility and mediocrity. We MUST have fun and create stories that will last generations.  Somehow I almost forgot this, somehow I thought my “adventures” were through. The truth is, they have just begun. Praise it! 4/5