ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List
What We're Watching:
The Kid Who Would Be King
Guest Review
by kimberly robb baker
I’ll tell you who: a kid who saw The Kid Who Would Be King.
I took my tween son and his guy friends to preview this modern, humorous take on the story of King Arthur, and the consensus was “awesome.”
The set-up is familiar: the protagonist (Alex—played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis) and his best friend (Bedders—played by Dean Chaumoo) are bullied at school. Protagonist is troubled at home—in this case by the fact that he knows little about his dad except for the fact that his mom says he had “demons to battle.”
There is the whole hero’s journey: the arrival of the teacher, the call to adventure, the refusal, the acquiescence. The imagery of Excalibur stuck in a stone in an urban construction site was fun. As was a teenaged Merlin with a touch of Cosmo Kramer-like physical comedy.
The formulaic nature of the plot is acknowledged in the movie, with characters comparing themselves to Sam and Frodo as well as Harry Potter and his crew.
At the heart of the story is a quest embarked upon by Alex, Bedders, and their two bullies, Lance (Tom Taylor) and Kaye (Rhianna Dorris). The stakes are high as the fate of Britain lies with them—and Alex hopes to finally meet his father. Merlin instructs them in a secularized chivalric code which boils down to: be on the side of good, take care of your loved ones, and never give up.
I appreciated the diversity of the cast, the modern-day challenges the kids faced, and the fact that the evil force was feminine for once (King Arthur’s jealous sister Morgana, portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson). And Patrick Stewart, completely charming as the elder Merlin, brings needed gravitas to the character and the film.
What the kids liked: The magic performed by Merlin—a kind of snapping, clapping thing that looks odd until you witness its incredible power (though they complained that, in the times he flew about as an owl, he never used bird droppings on the enemy). The inevitable huge battle scene. The humor.
All-in-all, The Kid Who Would Be King was a perfect weekend romp with a group of savvy kids who needed something thoughtfully made to lure them away from Dan TDM for a couple of hours.
Kimberly Robb Baker is a Chicago based writer, blogger, consultant, story teller, and mother. You can find her worky stuff here: ThisLittleBrand.com and her artsy fartsy stuff here: DisruptiveMama.com.
On January 25th, the legend comes to life like never before
THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING
opens in theaters everywhere on January 25, 2019!
Watch the new trailer HERE:
Release: January 25, 2019
Written and Directed by: Joe Cornish
Produced by: Nira Park, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Cast: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris, Angus Imrie, with Rebecca Ferguson and Patrick Stewart
SYNOPSIS
Old school magic meets the modern world in the epic adventure THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING. Alex (Ashbourne Serkis) thinks he's just another nobody, until he stumbles upon the mythical Sword in the Stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin (Stewart), take on the wicked enchantress Morgana (Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.
THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING Official Channels
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.TheKidWhoWouldBeKing.com
FACEBOOK: www.Facebook.com/KidWhoWouldBeKing
TWITTER: www.Twitter.com/KidWouldBeKing
INSTAGRAM: www.Instagram.com/KidWhoWouldBeKing
HASHTAG: #KidWhoWouldBeKing
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