First love is a magical thing, especially when envisioned by Wes Anderson, known for such works as Rushmore and
Fantastic Mr. Fox. In his latest, Moonrise Kingdom, two twelve year olds, Sam and Suzy, fall in love and decide
to escape their dysfunctions at home to spend a week alone in the wilderness. Of course, their disappearance creates
quite a stir and turns their island community on its head as a search party consisting of social services, a scout
troop, the local police, and their parents attempt to find them before a hurricane hits. Fans of Anderson will no
doubt be pleased to see him back in his wheelhouse with Moonrise Kingdom - fixed camera angles, quirky characters,
and meticulous production design. Even though complexity of character and plot are overshadowed by Anderson's artistic
flair, Moonrise Kingdom is enchanting nonetheless. A whimsical tale about a different kind of storm - adolescence before adulthood.
