Moonrise Kingdom Synopsis: Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
I don’t know exactly why, but the older I get, the more I find myself drawn to Wes Anderson’s films. Maybe it’s the way he spins offbeat stories or the pastel-colored worlds he builds with such care. Whatever the reason, I’ve realized that every one of his movies I’ve seen manages to be whimsical and entertaining, but always with a touch of melancholy.
Moonrise Kingdom feels like a love letter to youth and to the loneliness of being misunderstood. It follows Sam and Suzy, two twelve-year-olds who naturally don’t quite fit into the adult world around them. Together, they pack their essentials, which include binoculars, a record player, and even a kitten, and run away. Set on a remote island in 1965, their disappearance throws the adults into a frantic search. Sam is an orphan armed with scout skills and determination. At the same time, Suzy is a sharp-eyed dreamer overflowing with emotions no one seems to understand.
Anderson’s direction is pretty meticulous. I was absolutely in love with every frame. The movie is full of pastel skies, weathered lighthouses, and scenes that look like old postcards come alive. But beneath the charm and the deadpan humor, there’s real heart. It isn’t quirky for the sake of being quirky. It’s a tender coming-of-age story about belonging, the ache of growing up, and the strange magic of first love.
Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward are pitch-perfect as Sam and Suzy. Their performances capture the awkward intensity of being twelve and experiencing the kind of love you only get once when the world around you is mysterious and full of possibility. This is not a Hollywood romance at all. Their chemistry is unpolished in a way that feels completely genuine.
The supporting cast is, of course, stacked with Anderson regulars like Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Jason Schwartzman, and Tilda Swinton, who star alongside Frances McDormand and Bruce Willis. Willis, especially, shines as the island’s weary police captain, a man quietly in love with a married woman and aching for a family of his own. It’s really such a shame that Willis only worked with Anderson on this one film. It felt like he should have been added to the roster of regulars because this film was definitely one of his best performances.
Moonrise Kingdom is more than just a charming Wes Anderson film. It wraps you in nostalgia, reminding you of what it was like to be young with a plan, a map, and a heart full of impossible adventures. It’s tender, funny, and unmistakably Anderson.
Watched: 04/20/2025
Notable Song: Camp Ivanhoe Cadence Medley by Peter Jarvis and His Drum Corps
