Movie – Moonrise Kingdom

 The premise of this film did not sound like a comedy ‘the hunt for two kids on the run,’ but this a quirky comedy.I was worried from the trailers as they were another set of films that I do not want to see but then this started well and does much to re-lift my spirits. Also ‘starring Bruce Willis and Bill Murray’ sure helps although there is great cast.It’s based in gorgeous 1965 New England, although to me it could have been the small town America of today. The two twelve-year olds meet, Sam and young rebel Suzie and after many pen pal letters, realising they are both outcasts, meet again, fall in love and runaway to be together. There is even talk of marriage. The twists emerge when the girls’ Mum (Frances McDormand) is having an affair with the local Sheriff (Willis) who of course is the man in charge of the search party. He finds a soft spot for Sam, who has run away from the Scouts and so the bullies in his Scouts group are on the hunt too. Sam is an orphan and it turns out his foster parents think this is a good time to tell him they can no longer take care of him so luckily our man Willis is looking after his best interests.It is just a lush film of childhood love, adult love, parenting and scouts. Every day stuff really but beautifully told.8/10Smile facto 9½/10