I wanted “The Kings of Summer” to be better than it is. The
movie’s success, about three boys who decide to run away and live in a house
they build in the woods, hinges on the relationship between the two central
characters, Joe (Nick Robinson) and his best friend, Patrick (Gabriel Basso).
The chemistry isn’t there, perhaps because they aren’t able to convey the depth
that life-long friends would have. The third character, Biaggio (Moises Arias),
acts weird and says weird things, adding comic relief, but you never learn much
about him. And although I think director Jordan Vogt-Roberts and writer Chris
Galletta want the building of the house to represent a sort of coming of age,
the boys build it too fast, leaving the story to devolve into shallow sitcom.
Joe (Robinson) is the high school-age son of a single father
Frank (Nick Offerman). Frank is strict to the point of being dictatorial and
Joe can’t wait to get out from under his thumb. Patrick (Basso) also has parent
problems. In his case, it’s because his mom and dad are forever hovering. When
Joe suggests he and Patrick run away and build and live in a cabin in the woods,
Patrick reluctantly agrees. They are joined by Biaggio (Arias), a weird kid who
attaches himself to their project. The three successfully build their home, but
getting dinner becomes a challenge. And when Joe’s would-be girlfriend Kelly (Erin
Moriarty) accepts an invitation to the cabin, the spark between her and Patrick
puts the boys’ friendship in danger. “The Kings of Summer” is passable
entertainment, light and insubstantial. 6/20/13
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