4) The Kings Of Summer
These kids truly were the kings – I’m not sure I saw a better film during the summer of 2013. I’ve seen a ton of those typical “coming of age” stories where the main kid learns life lessons, grows up a tad, starts to get a handle on life, and all that jazz, but The Kings Of Summer is the golden standard for today’s “coming of age cinema.” The whole idea of children becoming adults revolves around doing so on their own, and what kid wouldn’t want to live in the middle of the woods with their two best friends – in a house they built? Jordan Vogt-Roberts’s film mixes fantasy and reality with just enough sweetness to really create a feel-good story about self-discovery and maturity, making us wish we were young again.
The real success here is in large part thanks to our budding lead actors. Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, and Moises Arias not only display tremendous chemistry, but they make us feel what it was like to once be free of all responsibility and still figuring out what was coming next. They’re absolutely hysterical together, especially the comedic relief from Arias, but when you mix in other veteran actors like Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, the cast rockets to another level – a level that makes you fall in love with almost every scene.
I know this film only got a limited release, but now that it’s out to the public, you have no reason not to see The Kings Of Summer. Don’t do yourself the disservice of missing this independent gem – you’ll be missing one of the best films of 2013.
The Kings Of Summer is currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Read my full review of the film here.
