Ironically a very good film if you watch it without filters and if you like nostalgic films

Rating: 10/10 (25 May 2013)

Being an occasional movie viewer rather than a consecrated film critic I didn't know what I was signing up for when I added this film to my Netflix queue. Honestly I was expecting a romantic comedy set in contemporary times with a cute couple and freaked out parents, but it was too late to stop the disc from coming to my home when I realized that this is not my favorite type of movie.
Anyway I started watching it and I loved it enough to write a review, I had no expectations not being a follower of the Wes Anderson cult and that may have helped. I read some reviews that compare it to other Wes' movies and try to draw references outside my knowledge, so I watched it as a regular movie you just put in the player out of boredom.
The movie is filmed through a filter (or a set of them I'm no expert on the matter) that places the movie in the 60's besides the objects that appear during the film and their colors that come from those times. But the objects and the colors, the formal stuff, cannot do the magic without the attitudes of the characters. Those characters are what make the movie sweet, witty, charming and serious at the same time.
Some things that I loved about it are related to what growing up felt like before the Internet age. The fascination with cartography (maps appear several times with some intelligent jokes included), the fact that the Kakhi Scouts' leader seems being the most happy man in his job (leaders of young camps seemed to be having a great time then, and I don't see any problem with that), the wisdom that some kids have before puberty, and also the innocent violence that can have serious consequences.
**I checked the spoiler alert box, I may had given some before, but here's when my main spoilers come**
Another hit of the film is that the kids are able to make their own decisions during the film, not only the two main characters but the whole troop when the kid leader decides to help them. I loved the militaristic (intended as parody maybe) portrait of the Khaki Scouts and the telegraphic sounds and dots-in-map highlighting the telegraph connections, all connected to some militaristic efficiency in the way the Scouts sent their telegraphic messages but also reminiscent of old war movies before CGI robbed us from a big chunk of our imaginations.
The educational vinyl record was also spot on.
I also liked the adults on the film. They have frustrations more common in their times, but they have a great heart and it is obvious from the first time the policeman and the Khaki Scouts' leader talk to social services that one of them will offer to adopt the orphan kid. I guess that's all for blunt spoilers, so I only will hint that the previous to final scene is glorious in mixing nostalgic technology, drama, happy professional coincidences that make the adoption of the orphan kid easy.
I am somewhat sensitive to films that try to lecture me, or movies that are too indulgent to their creators' tastes, but this film cracked me up with its quirky sense of humor without saturating my emotions. I don't know about other Wes Anderson's films (I watched the Royal T and Rushmore like five years ago and I have forgotten many details from those movies), but this one didn't feel over the top emotionally, or technically (with all those filters and obsession to get picture perfect frames).
And, in my opinion, if you watch it without mental filters or expectations it is a very funny film with lots of laughs, some tears, but a definitely positive view of the 60's. But you have to be a fan of the quirky stuff, I happen to be a quirk fan. Anyway most of the movie is set in the mindset of young adventurous kids (Khaki Scout, camping loving, not bored of the organization type), so the quirkiness is not out of place (I absolutely loved the kids' wedding scene).