The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)

Arthurian. Legend.

It isn't rare that I love family films. "The Lego Movie", both "Paddington" films, and the collected films of Pixar have all made it into my year end favorites. I like films with upbeat tones, and themes of kids empowering themselves, and gaining agency in a harsh world that sees to drag them down ("Inside Out" comes to mind). It left me the least bit shocked that I would fall deeply in love with writer/director Joe Cornish's "The Kid Who Would Be King", because, above all things, it is truly magical.

We start with young Alex (played wonderfully by Louis Ashborne Serkis) as he and and his best friend, Bedders (Dean Chaumoo), are moving into a new school. They are relentless bullied, and made to feel like the world is against them. When two bullies chase Alex into a construction site, he ends up finding  sword encased in a bit of concrete. He pulls the sword, and takes it home, only to find that it is Excalibur. This makes him the heir to the throne of the legendary King Arthur (pause for multiple Monty Python references).

With the discovery of Excalibur, Merlin has come to help train Alex against the rise of Arthur's old foe, and half-sister, Morgana. This sets young Alex, and his friends, off an adventure to destroy the forces of evil before the looming eclipse. And what an adventure it is. Cornish brings all the joy and exuberance of his debut feature, "Attack the Block", and manages to expand its scope, while making it more family friendly. While "Attack" was a bottle film set in a London apartment building, "Kid" moves out of the city, and all over the beautiful British Countryside. The kids travel all over England to visit major landmarks of Arthurian Legend. Cinematographer Bill Pope captures it, and the well paced action sequences, all so wonderfully.

Louis Ashborne Serkis is a delight as Alex. He commands the screen, and provides  range of emotional depth that is always a treat to see from such young talent. Dean Chaumoo as his sidekick, Bedders, has a unerring sweetness and wide-eyed optimism that make you want the best for him, and makes his own Sam and Frodo comparison seem so apt. It is inspiring to see how Cornish gives his young cast so much to do with this fantasy epic, and how he empowers them without ever feeling like he is pandering. He tells children that they are the future of this planet, but solving the world's problems isn't going to be easy, or done in a small amount of time.

If you can get the family out to see something on a cold winter day, I would highly suggest this wonderful piece about love and community.

Grade: A-
Starring: Louis Ashborne Serkis, Patrick Stewart, Rebbeca Ferguson
Director: Joe Cornish
Writer(s): Joe Cornish
Running Time: 120min
Rating: PG for fantasy action violence, scary images, thematic elements including some bullying, and language