While most films that earn the title of “Sundance hit” tend to fall on the heavier side of cinema (we’re still reeling from this year’s influx of films about highly inappropriate sexual relationships), occasionally a Sundance favorite will end up being something fun, frisky, and genuinely crowd-pleasing. Such is the case with Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ The Kings of Summer (known at the festival as Toy’s House), a coming-of-age tale in the vein of Goonies, a feel-good film about growing up, busting out, and moving on.
Starring the wonderful Nick Robinson as Joe Toy, the film tracks Joe’s seemingly wild idea to leave home for his own place in the woods – a ramshackle, handmade affair that soon also houses his best friend Patrick (Gabriel Basso) and the delightfully wacky Biaggio (Moises Arias). As fun as everything may be for the boys on this particularly crazy summer, it can’t last forever.
After the break, plot your own escape from the tyranny of having Nick Offerman as your dad (trust us, it’s not all bacon and whiskey) with the first trailer for The Kings of Summer.
The Kings of Summer will open on May 31st. [Apple]