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Critics Consensus: Thanks to charming performances and endearingly off-kilter spirit, The Kings of Summer proves to be a slight, sweet entry in the crowded coming-of-age genre.
Critic Consensus: Thanks to charming performances and endearingly off-kilter spirit, The Kings of Summer proves to be a slight, sweet entry in the crowded coming-of-age genre.
All Critics (115) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (88) | Rotten (27) | DVD (1)
Coming on like Stand by Me meets Son of Rambow, the boys' adventure is essentially dreamy indie-teen wish-fulfilment.
A warm and affectionate comedy about that last great summer when you're 13 or 14 and you don't realize just how much your life is about to change and things will never be the same.
This willfully eccentric tale about teenage boys in suburban Ohio fleeing their families to live in the deep woods plays like an erratic comic revue slapped together at theater camp.
There is much here to admire, but the overall impression is of a film that does not have the courage of its convictions.
Once they go into the woods, the movie becomes as interesting as watching kids hang around and play with sticks.
In its small, independent way, "The Kings of Summer" rules.
Satisfying enough with flashes of brilliance from both the teenage characters and the filmmakers to believe there's a spectacularly bright future for all ahead.
Some of the best comedies these days can be found in the indie market and, whilst Kings of Summer isn't one of the better ones, it is enjoyable.
It's a simple story that fails to transcend meaningfully.
Heartache, teen angst and mordant comedy are well tuned. Very funny, with wonderful performances, it's an unexpected delight.
While it openly evokes the spirit of pictures like "Stand By Me" and "Moonrise Kingdom," it scores originality points in the shading of its characters.
A slick piece of work that juts out at just enough odd angles to be idiosyncratic, but never alienating.
The kind of refreshing and funny indie dramedy tailor-made to charm everyone at Sundance, with its share of indie clichés and a director who seems very eager to show that he can direct, and it is worth seeing especially because of Nick Offerman and Moises Arias, both hilarious.
Super Reviewer
Decent movie. I expected to like it more, though.
A spectacular good time that shines with humor and drama. The best kind of guilty pleasure entertainment. A classic coming of age comedy that shines with brilliant humor, adventure, a great soundtrack and originality. A triumph for Director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts. It's absolutely wonderful and ambitious film. One of the years most tasteful, inventive and excellent surprises. A charming, unique, hilarious and heartwarming movie. An awesome and relate-able experience. The cast is so funny and has such great chemistry together. The performances from its young and gifted cast are all perfect. Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso and Moises Arias are sensational. Arias gives a show stealing performance, he is so outrageous you have to see him work to believe what he can do.
***1/2 "Kings of Summer" is a kind of "Stand by Me"(there's been quite a few of those this year)type of movie. It's about 3 teenage boys who are fed up with their parents and their lives in general. So they go out in the woods and build a house and just hang out. The movie is very authentic to how friendship really is at that age. It really brought me back to my high school days and how me and my buddies would joke around. It's a very funny movie, actually one of the funnier films I've seen this year. The cast is mainly unknowns, save for Nick Offerman. Offerman plays one of the dads and he is hilarious. Between this and "We're the Millers" the guy is having an awesome year. The film does drag in parts and there are a few times where it tries to be an "artsy" movie. But don't let that keep you away, this is a very entertaining movie. One of those hidden gems that you don't hear about, but is definitely worth a watch. I bet this gets some Spirit Award(independent film) nominations at the end of the year. Good flick.
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