Extraordinarily touching - see it while you can

Rating: 10/10 (13 June 2012)

While I cannot speak for those who aren't comfortable with the style of director Wes Anderson, I hope that they will give this film a chance.
This is a film for adults about kids. Wes Anderson has carefully dreamed up a ripe setting for his story, with characters that feel remarkably real, yet have a cartoon charm.
The sets and costuming are very well thought-out, with each character being instantly recognizable, whether it be the iconic uniformed boy and pink-dressed girl of the film, the sloppy getup of her father (played by the perfectly unenthusiastic Bill Murray), or the blue gown of Social Services.
The acting of this film is not glamorous, but impeccably honest. Half of the actors are children, the other half adults. The adult actors, consisting of several huge names, capture a parental lethargy that adult watchers should recognize. The child roles, on the other hand, are where the real action is, as the kids pursue the events of the story in the style of a romantic action film. Wes Anderson captures these dual tones very well.
While the playful attitude of the film is amusing and will leave you laughing many times, I would not label Moonrise Kingdom as a comedy. The story resonates with darker themes that left me sympathizing with each character on a deeper level than I had expected.
There are melancholic undertones throughout Moonrise Kingdom, but the resolution of this story will leave you happy and satisfied. Please treat yourself to it.