This weekend I took my 13 year old son and 11 year old daughter to see The Kid Who Would Be King. The book and movie industry have already hit huge home runs with kid wizards and kid demi-gods so it seems only fitting they they would take a swing at kid Medieval legends. Because my children both love Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, I felt it was a good bet they were the target audience for this modern day version of the legend of King Arthur.
I was right... but just barely. Because my son is almost 14, he was definitely on the higher end of the intended audience. I think if he were one year older, it would have missed him. Although the villain was quite scary, it did not cross the line to where my daughter was hiding her eyes. The movie was clever and fun... for kids. The creators of this film made it just entertaining enough for an adult that a parent would not be miserable escorting their children to see this. However it required so much suspension of disbelief that only a wide eyed child could really pull off the amount needed to truly enjoy the film.
Speaking of the creators, after I returned home, I started my usual pre-review research. I was absolutely shocked to see that this movie was written and directed by Joe Cornish. Who is Joe Cornish? Well he just happens to be the man who wrote and directed one of my absolute favorite movies of all time: Attack the Block. In fact, The Kid Who Would be King is the first movie Cornish has directed since that incredibly fun "R" rated science fiction delight from 2011.
*John Boyega's Moses is a Chivalrous Knight trapped in a thug's body... and life.*After a bit of reflection, I should have known it was the same guy. The Kid Who Would Be King is basically a kid-friendly version of Attack The Block. Instead of a gang of teenage thugs battling creatures from space, preteen nerds battle Morgana and her demons from the underworld.
Just as A.T.B. was perfectly aimed directly at me, my children were the targets of this film. It was a direct hit. My kids loved their pop culture references sprinkled throughout the movie. There were plenty of mentions of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars. My kids smiled at each one. In addition, my children seemed to connect with several of the characters and they enjoyed the Hero's Journey. Although not spectacular, the special effects weren't DC-bad either. There are plenty of battle scenes spaced out through the 120 minutes culminating in an absolutely ludicrous final battle that would make any Ewok proud.
Ludicrous or not, my kids had fun. Ultimately that is what this movie is all about: pre-teens having fun.
Wait. That isn't fair. There was actually something a bit deeper than mindless fun. This movie did a fine job of teaching kids the Code of Chivalry. We live in a time when it seems many of the tenants of Chivalry are trodden upon or ridiculed. I was happy that my children were able to see these moral standards exemplified in a fun way. In my opinion, the following should never go out of style:
If there was one kid in that theater who learned something about courage, respect, and honor, then this movie was worth its weight in gold.
Geeky Dad's Movie Guide
Number of times I fell asleep: **0** Number of eye rolls: **2** (This is a movie for 12 year olds. Suspension of disbelief is at a premium.) Number of face palms: **0** Number of times I checked my phone: **0** Number of times I said "That's ridiculous": **2** (See above.) Did my children like it: **Yes** Would I see it without my kids: **I'd Netflix it** Full price/Matinee/Rental/Free/Not worth the time: **Matinee in a decent theater. Although not aimed at adults, you may need to take one for the team so your kids can enjoy it... and perhaps learn a lesson or two.**
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