Movie Information

In the coming-of-age comedy, The Kings of Summer, three boys choose to run away from their teenage responsibilities and families. Through their summer they build a house from all the things that they can scrap together and hunt for anything edible. Though free from their parents, their friendship is tested as they quickly find out that friends can be just as difficult to deal with as your family.

Rating: R (for language)

Genre: Coming-of-age

Directed by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Writer: Chris Galletta

Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Review

The Kings of Summer is eccentric, funny, and a bit introspective. When I first saw this movie, I was a sophomore and only saw the light hearted and comedic side of it. Watching it again as a senior getting ready to leave for college, I see that the movie is more than some teenage boys joking around in the woods. The movie itself moves pretty slowly, but the placement of comedic relief makes up for slow pace.

A problem that often arises in movies about adolescence is relying on the teen actors.  The Kings of Summer has no issues with the actors being talentless. Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, and Moises Arias, (yes, Rico from Hannah Montana) have no problems depicting what life is like as an angsty teenager.
The Kings of Summer is the perfect summertime movie. The combination of the simple plot and complex characters makes it easy to grow attached to the storyline. The cinematography is absolutely brilliant and makes even the most simple landscapes look fantastic.