movie review: moonrise kingon

Set in an idyllic New England town in 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of Sam and Suzy (played by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward), two pre-teens from broken homes who concoct a clever plan to run away together. While Suzy hopes to escape her increasingly distant and removed parents who've become preoccupied with their own marital problems, Sam (an orphan) is just looking for a place to belong. But all hell breaks loose once the two are discovered missing, and a cast of comical characters ranging from an easygoing sheriff (Bruce Willis) to a cold-hearted bureaucrat known simply as “Social Services” (Tilda Swinton) set out to find them. In what may be one Wes Anderson's best works, Moonrise Kingdom immediately transports you to another time and place with its fantastical sets and meticulous costuming. And while a few familiar faces gracing the screen (including Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman), it's really the kids who steal the show. From our two jaded protagonists to an over-eager group of militaristic Eagle Scouts, this adolescent cast is teeming with young talents on the rise. You'd be wise to remember their faces. We won't spoil the ending for you, but be warned: This movie may inspire you to run away from home yourself -- if only to sneak back into the movie theater and watch this film again.