[Review] The Kid Who Would Be King (7/10)

Title - The Kid Who Would Be King
Studio - 20th Century Fox
Starring - Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Ferguson, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Doris, Angus Imrie
Writer - Joe Cornish
Director - Joe Cornish
Release - 1 March 2019

Is it too early to say that Joe Cornish has an eye for young talents? He did give us John Boyega very many years ago.

Here, he brought us Louis Ashbourne Serkis as the protagonist; who carried the movie well enough. But the highlight, for me, was actually Angus Imrie playing the younger version of Merlin. Every time he came onscreen, even doing those ridiculous hand movements to cast a spell, he was a scene stealer. Every expression he did was exaggerated but never over the top. He played the "out of this world" character very well.

Cornish's sense of childhood adventure once again was very strong when bringing this story to life. Every challenge, every location, there was always that sense of wonder as he traversed between reality and magic so seamlessly. Even though certain scene jumped a few steps in terms of logic, but it was so natural that the audience would follow the story without question.

However, that got a little too far in the third act; as with only two hours, the four kids had to create an not only convince a whole school, but also gotten them ready for battle with setting of traps and swordplay. That's when I really went, okay, this is still a kid's movie.

But what I really appreciated was the messages behind certain "challenges". Like facing your own fear head on and never put things off until they are too late. I thought those were done with subtlety but also very clear.

It was still a fun ride nonetheless. Patrick Stewart and Rebecca Ferguson must have had fun playing their characters here, even if it was just for those few scenes.