Quite a few classics have emerged from the coming-of-age genre with notables like STAND BY ME, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, THE SANDLOT, SUPERBAD, DAZED AND CONFUSED, and DEAD POETS SOCIETY being some of the best. Now, the indie-pic THE KINGS OF SUMMER, which premiered at Sundance this year to rave reviews, is maneuevering to secure a spot in the “best of” category for the genre. Starring Nick Offerman, Megan Mullaly, Alison Brie, Mary-Lynn Rajskub, Nick Robinson, Moises Arias, and Gabriel Basso, the film follows three friends who are fed up with living at home and decide to run away and build their own house in the woods and living off the land.
It’s a fun premise and is contingent on how the story unfolds. Based on the trailer and the behind-the-scenes featurette, it seems like the filmmakers have explored the potential in this tale, which looks like a funny, likable pic that just about anyone with a childhood could relate to. As a kid, I can remember the allure of running off with your friends and playing in the woods, armed with freedom, exploration, and imagination, which slowly slips away the further you get into adulthood. THE KINGS OF SUMMER looks to be a good reminder of what it was to be on the cusp of adulthood. Plus, Nick Offerman. Sold.
Here’s the trailer:
Here’s the featurette:
Here’s the synopsis:
Joe Toy, on the verge of adolescence, finds himself increasingly frustrated by his single father, Frank’s attempts to manage his life. Declaring his freedom once and for all, he escapes to a clearing in the woods with his best friend, Patrick, and a strange kid named Biaggio. He announces that they are going to build a house there, free from responsibility and parents. Once their makeshift abode is finished, the three young men find themselves masters of their own destiny, alone in the woods.
THE KINGS OF SUMMER kicks off their summer vacation on May 31, 2013.
There’s also the matter of Alison Brie being in this…