THE KINGS OF SUMMER

   

Rated R for language and some teen drinking

Cast: Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Erin Moriarty, with Megan Mullally, Alison Brie, and Nick Offerman

Written By: Chris Galletta

Directed By: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

MASTERS OF THEIR DOMAIN
Review By Andrew Shuster

Coming-of-age stories have been a staple of cinema since the beginning, after all who can’t relate to growing up? The Kings of Summer is an enjoyable, if slight entry among the countless films of this kind, but also somewhat generic. The cast, made up of mostly unknown actors, is solid and the director adds flair to an otherwise straightforward story, most notably with the use of slow motion and rap music. There are funny and dramatic moments throughout, but the plot is underdeveloped and there isn’t enough material to sustain itself.  

The film revolves around best friends Joe (Nick Robinson) and Patrick (Gabriel Basso), who decide to build and live in a shack deep in the woods to get away from their parents. Joe’s mother is deceased and his father Frank (Nick Offerman) is distant and mean, making everyone around him miserable just because he’s miserable. Patrick’s parents mean well, but they’re so clueless and irritating that they’ve caused him to develop hives all over his body. Finding various supplies, such as using the door of a porta-potty for their entrance, the boys develop a ramshackled house. Tagging along is a strange boy named Biaggio (Moises Arias), who wields a machete and speaks in non- sequiturs.

The middle portion of the film drags as most of the screen-time is spent with the boys living in the woods. There are one too many montage sequences of them swinging from trees, attempting to hunt, and discovering their surroundings. The story picks up again and drama unfolds when a girl enters the picture. Joe invites Kelly (Erin Moriarty), a girl from school who he likes, to their secret hideout. Unfortunately for Joe, Kelly likes Patrick instead. The rift this causes in their friendship takes up most of the third act and adds a dramatic depth to the film. This is a movie about relationships, both between parents and kids, as well as teenage boys.

Although playing somewhat of an antagonist, Nick Offerman gives the funniest performance in the movie and gets the best one-liners. His cynicism, sarcasm, and mean-spiritedness isn’t excusable, but it’s understandable due to the death of his wife. Towards the beginning of the film, Joe calls the police on his dad during a heated game of monopoly. He gives a description of his father to the police, claiming that a theft was committed. Due to the false allegation, the police ask Frank, “Are you familiar with the boy who cried wolf?”. Frank responds, “I experienced a childhood on the planet earth, so yes I’ve heard of that one”. When Joe runs away, Frank considers pressing charges for the supplies he took.

Another notable performance is Moises Arias as Biaggio. He’s present solely to provide comic relief as neither of the other boys even know him, he just kind of randomly appeared. The point of his character isn’t entirely clear. Unlike almost every other character in the film there’s no arc or development to his persona. He is what he is. However, he is a smartly utilized asset providing levity, and giving the film a good deal of bizarre and random humor.

The Kings of Summer is ultimately an inconsequential, yet amusing and decent enough dramedy about adolescence. It’s an R-rated movie about kids, but made for adults. Had it been more ambitious or original it could have been something special, as there are other elements that work quite well. As is, the film is suitably entertaining while treading well-worn territory.