Moonrise Kingdom is simply bewitching, what more do you need to know?
Director Wes Anderson invests each frame with a sense of childish wonder that fits perfectly with the sweet central romance between two 12-year-olds.
Resourceful orphan Sam (Jared Gilman) is the least popular member of his Khaki Scout troop, which is run with military precision by Edward Norton.
He elopes with pen pal Suzy (Kara Hayward), who shares her lighthouse home with parents Walt (Bill Murray) and Laura (Frances McDormand) and three brothers.
The youngsters head for the beach. Meanwhile, Walt and Laura implore local cop Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis) to find their daughter.
While Walt becomes increasingly unsettled Ward and his troop join the hunt, determined to find Sam before Social Services (Tilda Swinton) lands on the island to take the boy into care.
Moonrise Kingdom rests heavily on the shoulders of newcomers Gilman and Hayward.
Both young actors are magnificent, capturing the vulnerability, steeliness and sweet affection of their runaways.
The A-list co-stars invest their roles with larger than life qualities, including Willis whose perpetual smirk suits his bumbling man of the law.
DAMON SMITH
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