Welcome everyone to my next review that I promised in my Glass review. But instead of looking at Shyamalan, and superheros we will be looking at Attack the Block director Joe Cornish’s modern take on the Arthurian legends. I was actually kind of looking forward to this film, as it had a fun premise, the trailers were entertaining, and the reviews were surprisingly really good to boot. But even with those things in its favor the film was unable to make much noise at the box office flopping hard with just a $7 million opening, $16 million domestic gross, and 31 million worldwide total. I was unfortunately unable to see it in theaters, but now thanks to those wonderful airplane television screens I was finally able to check it out, and the results were pretty good overall.
After a brief prologue explaining the legend of King Arthur, and the Round Table, we are introduced to our main character Alex, a young boy living with his mother in London where things are not looking bright for the world. He ain’t the most popular kid schools always getting picked on by the bullies, Lance, and Kaye, but he does have a friend with Bedders, who also gets picked on by those same bullies. While running away from the two Alex then stumbles upon the sword, Excalibur, in a construction site, and is able to pull it out of the stone. He then remembers from an old story book a message his father wrote for him, leading him to believe that he is the son of King Arthur himself. Things get even more strange when Merlin comes to his school, and tells him that the evil half sister of the King, Morgana, will be coming soon thanks to the world becoming a dark, and depressing place again. At first Alex wants nothing to do with this, but he soon realizes what will happen if Morgana succeeds in taking over, and agrees to stop her. With the help of Bedders, Lance, and Kay, Alex sets out to create a new Knights of the Round Table, and train under Merlin, and find his father too. But as the day of the Eclipse comes near can they be able to learn to work together as a team in time to save mankind from certain doom?
I have been noticing a trend recently with a couple live action families films, and that is how they feel so much like one of those kids movies from the 80’s, and I mean that as a compliment. Films like Goosebumps, the House With a Clock in its Walls, Bumblebee, this film, and more feel like one of those movies adults would drop their kids off at, and take in a screening for another film, before the four quadrant blockbuster became the new norm, and those attracted both demographics. These films feel like they would have thrived in that era, and maybe become classics like the Goonies, E.T., and more, and they all are of good quality too which helps. While this film may not be as good as some of the examples I just mentioned, it is still a solid adventure movie that is chock full of great messages for younger audiences. The film’s Brexit era setting makes it surprisingly relevant given how the world in the film ain’t far off in how things are not very happy in the world today, and how things like the code of Chivalry have been mostly forgotten. The movie makes sure to argue that even if the world may not be all that great, it is still important to do what is right, and be kind to others, and help those in need just like Arthur, and his knights. While it is a great message, and the film does execute it pretty well, it does sometimes feel like it wants to keep shoving it down our throats at times which can be a little annoying especially when you already get the point. This also brings me to the film’s pacing which can drag at times, thanks to some scenes going on a bit too longer than they should. As for the humor, the film does succeed in being consistently witty throughout with many funny, and clever jokes involving the Arthur myths, in a modern era.
Joe Cornish shows off some good directing here, as the film well made, and has a sort of feeling similar to Attack the Block (which I have only seen bits), which is not surprising since that film is basically the same kids fighting off otherworldly beings premise but R-rated, and with aliens. But they are different enough in terms of style, and there are a number of beautiful shots present throughout of the British countryside. The CGI is serviceable if not spectacular, more on the level of stuff like Goosebumps, and Monster Trucks, which is fine for what it is, and there thankfully not a huge overabundance of it, at least until the third act. I do however think the undead soldiers on horseback were pretty cool with a creative design, and menacing appearance, even of they are essentially one of those mindless CGI armies you see in many superhero films nowadays (thankfully there’s no big beam in the sky anywhere here). Even Morgana’s monster form was pretty creepy at times. I also do appreciate the 2D animation used in the prologue as it was very well done, and its always a treat seeing that in movies nowadays. The action is also pretty fun, with there being a nice variety of car chases, horse back riding, and sword combat. These scenes are also where the film takes advantage of its setting, and gets creative like a car chase with undead soldiers on horseback, and the climactic battle in the school which gets turned into a fort with many traps, and while it is a lot of fun it could have benefited from being a little longer.
As for the surprisingly large cast, they all do a solid job playing their characters. Louis Ashborne Serkis (son of Mo-cap king, Andy Serkis) does a good job as Alex making for a strong good hearted protagonist who is not without his flaws. While his arc isn’t really anything new, and there is a sort of twist regarding the father that people will probably see coming a mile away, it still is executed very well, and it provides the film with many of its best emotional beats. I also want to give a shout out to Denis Gough, who plays his mother, as she does a very good job with the emotional scenes, has a nice relationship with Alex, and makes for a pretty sympathetic character. Dean Chaumoo is charming as Bedders providing a lot of witty one liners, and he also has nice relationship with Alex which has a nice best friends vibe to it. Tom Taylor, and Rhianna Doris are solid as Lance, and Kay, respectively even if their character arcs are not as compelling as their fellow child co stars. But the real star of the picture is Angus Imrie as the young (or old in the context of the film) Merlin who is just a scene stealer here. He is just constantly witty, charming, and provides the movie with some of its best humor (his magic clapping never gets old). Heck its almost a disappointment when he switches to his older form, played by Patrick Stewart, as you’ll want more of young Merlin, and I do hope to see the young actor in more work. Sadly the biggest disappointment in the cast is Rebecca Ferguson as Morgana, as she is woefully underutilized, and is just a generic villain who just wants to take over the world, and is more of a plot device to keep the story moving than anything else.
The Kid Who Would be King is solid kids movie that will remind you of a time where there were more of its ilk. If this film were released in the 80’s it probably would have been embraced more by the masses, and maybe even be considered a classic for families, but today it is just the last of a dying breed. I can see why the film did not do well, but I still wish it did better as it did not deserve to bomb so hard. While I personally think similar fare like House with a Clock in its Walls, and Bumblebee are better films, this film still works for what it is, and is consistently entertaining throughout. I think kids will get the most out of it while, adults will still have a fun time, and it does contain some great messages that are relevant both demographics.
Rating: B
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