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Rating: 3 out of 5
I debated about going to see The Kid Who Would Be King. I thought about it, thinking it would be another King Arthur story. How many times can we show the tale of King Arthur, I thought? So many movies and TV shows have been told about this former legend and king. Whether it is Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, Monty Python, and the Holy Grail, Excalibur, First Knight, the list goes on and on. Here we are again with another tale of the king. Is this a sign that the world needs a king again? Yet, this film was actually the complete opposite of what I thought. Rather than a kid who actually would be king, we get a middle schooler whose story is to find faith in himself again.
Director Joe Cornish presents a pretty strange way of needing a king again. First, the films open up the tale of the famous king. What it does is set it up for today’s world. As Arthur defeats Morgana (Ferguson) and seals her in a tomb. Before she is sealed, she puts a curse down, stating she will return when the country is divided and needs a leader. Arthur response by saying that one day a person will rise up and unite the lands. Straight and to the point premise. Cornish uses today’s world views of England to bring his story a little bit to the front with the whole Brexit issue and the talk of war. This helps with the slow rise of Morgana and her army once again.
The story picks up with the introduction of Alex (Serkis). Alex is a middle schooler who is struggling in his new school. His best friend, Bedders (Chaumoo), is continuously bullied by two older students Lance (Taylor) and Kaye (Dorris). Alex tries to stand up for his friend but is eventually bullied also. Lance and Kaye pretty much prey on the weak while nothing ever happens to the strong. As seen after Alex gets in a fight with Lance. One day after school, Alex is being chased by Lance and Kaye. Alex runs into a construction area and stumbles across a sword that is literally stuck in a concrete slab like the sword in the stone. Alex pulls it out and runs home, not knowing what he possesses. The next day, Alex is visited by a strange teenage boy (Imrie), who is actually the great and powerful wizard Merlin that can switch to his elder self (Stewart). Merlin tells Alex that Morgana is rising and that he must go on a quest to stop her and fulfill his destiny as king.
This story is actually really good in a way that makes you think about specific items in life. The importance of honor to one’s self. The importance of teamwork and how it is okay to ask for help while going up against a significant task in life. Yet the major problem with this story is trying to mix two worlds together: a kid’s movie and politics. As I was waiting for Alex to become king, yet he doesn’t. Does he become “king” of his school, because I am still trying to figure that out? Going into it, the use of the political landscape is a good idea but could be way over many kid’s heads. With those downsides, the movie still does well with having a kid believe in himself. Well, more like the best friend saving the main character’s a**. Ever seen Lord of the Rings? Remember how Sam did all the freakin work. Same here! Without Bedders, Alex would be a failure. Why is it the friend does all the heavy lifting and get NO respect.
The film does have its bright spots. It’s not too dialogue-heavy, and it has a nice little mixture between action and emotional scenes. The whole tree fighting scene was pretty nice, but the final battle in the school was actually really entertaining. Never knew kids defending school to the death. The whole scene with Alex’s mom and father was actually pretty sad. Especially the entire scene when he talks to his mom after learning about his father. Quite emotional.
Louis Ashbourne Serkis, who is the son of CGI wizard Andy Serkis, gives his best shot as Alex, and I will say, does a pretty good job at it. He is believable as the kid who gets picked on and tries his best. He just seems like a nervous kid who is looking for answers. Good job, Louis. Special props need to be given to Dean Chaumoo as Bedders. He was a tad bit annoying but actually does his role so well. Chaumoo was charming, funny, and the second star of the movie. He always had a positive attitude. Now the real star of the film was Angus Imrie as a young Merlin. Dude was straight up strange and funny. When he came on screen, you just know crazy things will happen. Those crazy hand slaps when doing a spell was funny and make anyone from Naruto series blush. Sir Patrick Stewart. What was going on with you? Looking like a cross between Doc from Back to the Future and Rick from Rick and Morty. Playing the wise old man was great when you were on screen, but that hair needs to be worked on.
The Kid Who Would Be King is a cute, fun movie to go see with the family. It tries its best to make it relevant in today’s world, but the part could’ve been skipped. It is a movie to get started if you want to learn about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
