The Kings of Summer - B

Rated PG-13, 93 minutes

Familiar coming-of-age  "Kings of Summer" is genuine fun

Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias and Nick Robinson

Coming-of-age films are a dime a dozen, yet when one works right it will be etched in your memory, ala "Stand by Me," "The Goonies" or "The Sandlot" just to name a few. The new coming-of-age movie "The Kings of Summer," while treading thin, familiar ground, is one that has a likable charm and spirit that should make it a sleeper, word-of-mouth hit. "The Kings of Summer" tells the story of three teenage friends - Joe (Nick Robinson), Patrick (Gabriel Basso) and the eccentric and unpredictable Biaggio (Moises Arias) who run off and spend some of their summer in the woods constructing a house that will strengthen their bond and also build some great memories. From first-time director Jordan Vogt-Roberts in an auspicious debut, "The Kings of Summer" is funny, upbeat and one of the better coming-of-age film in recent memory. It has a cultish appeal of "The Goonies" yet with the wistful humor of "Stand by Me" and "The Sandlot." It helps that the three young actors are incredibly appealing; Basso and Robinson carry the film with heart though its Arias as the eccentric, oddly shaped Biaggio (best known as Rico from "Hannah Montana") who steals the movie with its most genuinely funny, laugh-out-moments. It's also nice that the adults are a little wacky too, with Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and Mary Jane Rajskub all getting in some humorous moments, with Offerman in particular making the best of his lines. The script from Chris Galletta is also appealing but flawed and with less talented actors, it wouldn't hold up under such a thin familiarity (in other words there isn't much there). Still, "The Kings of Summer" has fun and so should you. A decent, serviceable effort for such a well-worn genre, this is definitely worth a look.

Wes's Grade: B