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Moonrise Kingdom review

A crowd-pleaser from Cannes, 'Moonrise Kingdom' is a well-judged flight of fancy from Wes Anderson

The hype...
Having won rave reviews at Cannes, Wes Anderson's latest film hops across the channel for a quick release. Bruce Willis is the big name joining the director's regular cast members, but a lot of the story centres on two young actors. Can they deliver the goods and return Wes Anderson to form after a couple of mediocre releases? It's a lot to rest on young shoulders.

The story...
It's the summer of 1965, and strange things are about to happen on a small island just off the coast of New England.

An earnest Khaki Scout Troop leader (Edward Norton) discovers that one of his young charges is missing. Sam (Jared Gilman) has done a runner and a full-scale search for him is about to begin. Local cop Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis) takes up the challenge, but his task is made even more difficult when a second youngster is reported missing.

Suzy (Kara Hayward) has escaped from her own troubles, and it is believed she and Sam have formed a pact to meet-up and get as far away as possible. Her parents (Frances McDormand and Bill Murray) are desperate to find their daughter, but there's no one who wants orphaned Sam.

As the authorities close in on the young couple, so does a wild storm, and we are embroiled in a race against time in the beautiful environs of this wild and remote location.

The breakdown...
There is a whiff of the standard Wes Anderson formula here, from the hues of the colour palette to the familiar faces in the ensemble cast, but there is a more pleasing result than in the likes of 'Fantastic Mr Fox' and 'The Darjeeling Limited'.

After a dizzying opening, the focus shifts to two young protagonists and both leads are exceptional.  The stilted style the director is famous for certainly helps, but there is no denying the warmth and energy they bring to proceedings.

Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward have great chemistry on screen, and their tentative romance is full of the joys of youth. Their connection is believable, and their actions mirror those of the adults around them to great effect.

In particular, Bruce Willis does a great job of showing us that even the most grown-up of adults can make mistakes and throw caution to the wind when matters of the heart take hold. The comparisons may seem obvious, but Anderson delivers them with a real sense of style.

Edward Norton's bumbling scoutmaster initially seems like an odd character, but he too undergoes an identifiable transformation. Through his endeavours, and the efforts of the young girl's parents played by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, you get a sense of the spirit that grips this small community as they begin their search and rescue efforts.

Of course it's not that simple in the world of Wes Anderson. Danger appears in the unlikely form of Tilda Swinton, who plays a 'child-catcher' type, ominously (and simply) named Social Services, but there is also friendship at hand when the other scouts come to the aid of our lovestruck couple.

The Romeo and Juliet atmosphere is heightened by great music and crafty visuals. Even in the most fanciful scenes there are elements that you can identify with from your own childhood.

This is a sharp, enjoyable and engrossing film which will hopefully find an audience here. An utter delight.

The verdict...
Twee, but not too whimsical, this is Wes Anderson at his very best. A great adult cast and two superb performances from the young leads make for a charming film that lives up to its hype.

Rating: 4/5

'Moonrise Kingdom' is released in the UK on 25 May. Certificate: 12A.

Watch the trailer for 'Moonrise Kingdom'