Refreshing, Entertaining, Delightful - Wes Anderson in top form here.

Rating: 7/10 (23 September 2012)

"Moonrise Kingdom" is a signature Wes Anderson movie. In look and feel, it comes quite close to his earlier work, "The Royal Tenenbaums". However, at times I was also reminded of "Submarine" that wonderfully precocious work from British director Richard Ayoade where a 15 year old's sole objective is to lose his virginity before his next birthday.
"Moonrise Kingdom" is strewn with classic Anderson characters; troubled but endearingly flawed adults, dysfunctional but intelligent kids (not the irritatingly faux cute Bollywood variety), poignant portrayals of wealthy and working class people generously infused with wry, dry humor. Overall a charming mix of quirk and cool. No scope for melodrama here.
The highlight of Anderson movies as with "Moonrise Kingdom" is cinematography, background score and restrained acting.
Each scene shot by Robert Yeoman is elegantly composed and aesthetically shot, mostly in primary colors. Alexandre Desplat's original background score mixes folk music, classic and rock seamlessly. Viewers also get a crash course in music appreciation during the opening and closing scenes of the movie.
Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward (a very tempting mix of Emma Watson and Kristen Stewart) in the leading role of 12 year olds madly in love with each other are completely believable. Ensemble cast of Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDoirmand, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel and Jason Schwartzman complete the list of oddballs, weirdos, wackos and misfits inhabiting the fragile world of adolescents.
So go right ahead and immerse yourself and you would come out refreshed, provoked, moved, entertained and delighted. I guarantee that.