The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) Review!!

Synopsis – A band of kids embark on an epic quest to thwart a medieval menace.

My Take – The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has been around for a long time and has been told multiple times through books, films and television series, ranging from live-action to animated fare. However looking at the reception some of the recent adaptions have received, it seems like audiences are just downright done with the tale of the brave king and his exceptional sword.

Nevertheless, FOX here brings us yet another take on the legend, only this time he gets a grade school treatment. Written and directed by Joe Cornish, whose last film, Attack the Block, the 2011 sci-fi/action-comedy featuring a younger John Boyega, received positive reviews and has since become somewhat of a cult classic mainly earning praise for its inventive concept as well as director Cornish‘s social commentary and distinct directorial style.

Here, too director Cornish ably balances the subgenre’s needs, cashing in on old standards to deliver satisfying moments, in a film that very much fits in with the earnest kid-led action/adventure of the 80s and 90s. His take here is more in the lines of the Harry Potter and The Goonies, and way more pleasant than other recent stabs at the legend. There’s a sense of play and pathos, there’s wit, a few scary bits, and plenty more that brings this one a step above.

Sure, it’s a tad overwritten, and relies on clichés underneath the hooligan comedy and may also not have quite that impact on an adult, but it’s easy to recognize its earnest joyfulness that taps into those childlike feelings. For better or worse, it feels like a film from another time. If you enjoyed Attack the Block, you’ll probably enjoy this one too, only this time expect a less deranged, hilarious, or cheeky film.

The story follows Alex Elliott (Louis Ashborn Serkis), an average student living a seemingly normal life with his single mother (Denise Gough). However deep inside he misses his father who apparently hasn’t been in his life since he was very young, and despite his modest size, finds himself lashing out at bullies particularly Lance (Tom Taylor) and Kaye (Rhianna Doris), who are often found tormenting his best friend, Bedders (Dean Chaumoo). However, everything changes the moment Alex discovers the Excalibur, King Arthur’s legendary sword, lodged into a cement block at a construction site, and manages to pull it out, making him a true heir and the next in line to lead the Round Table into the 21st century.

Unknown to him, his actions have awoken Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson), the evil witch/half-sister of King Arthur who was trapped in hell long ago by the king and his knights. Before banishing, she promised to return when the country’s leadership is crisis and its people at their weakest, and keeping current events in mind, this seems like the perfect time for her to ascend to power once again. In order to provide aid to Alex, Merlin (Patrick Stewart) joins Alex’s school in the form of a teenager (Angus Imrie) as a way to provide protection as well as prepare him for Morgana’s return.

Per Merlin’s instructions, Alex assembles allies in the form of Bedders, Lance and Kaye and the four set off on a journey to discover the entrance to hell so that Alex can defeat Morgana once and for all. However, with all four forced to honor King Arthur’s moral code or else their quest will end in failure, the once and future king and his allies will struggle to live up to the expectations that come with the Arthurian legend. And, on top of that, Alex will need to defeat Morgana or else she’ll enslave England under her own hellish rule.

Without a doubt this film works well to be a worthy successor to Attack the Block, as well as an original and sprightly caper that recalls Steven Spielberg produced hits of the 1980s, such as The Goonies. It’s a film that somehow takes one of the oldest “chosen one” narratives around the story of King Arthur and finds something fresh in its tale of heroism. Here, director Cornish takes his time setting all of this up, making for a first act that’s charming, but a tad restrained. Alex has to make allies, work himself up into the adventure, and only parts of all of this really stand out—like Imrie’s hilarious and charismatic Young Merlin, who lights up and steals every scene he’s in. 7

Even the film’s pulsating synth score in these early scenes, written by Electric Wave Bureau, feels like its holding back waiting for something greater to come along. As the film moves on though, director Cornish’s story, style, and even the music continue to crescendo. A tale set primarily in a suburb starts to feel like Lord of the Rings as the characters venture out into the countryside.

There’s even a little superhero flavor when the battles get bigger and bigger. As Alex and his friends get further along in their adventure, the film continues to blossom from there, finally building to an excellent, epic third act that makes the entire journey to this point pay off in some nice, rewarding ways.

Director Joe Cornish also ably relishes in the film’s goofy ideas and good-natured quirk. It’s right there in the use of a crosswalk sign as a shield, the fidgeting fingers when a young Merlin performs magic, the smartly shot and designed CG moments of flaming skeleton knights, or the creepy branch make-up atop Ferguson, or the lovingly staged long shots of Alex holding the sword on a cliff while tourists clap. He even has answers for the Lady in the Lake in an era of swimming pools and bathtubs.

Director Cornish knows how to stage a sight gag, there’s a good one involving an updated Round Table, and how to weave pop culture references into the dialogue without departing too far from the kind of thing kids might actually say. He suggests that the only place one can get swords in this world are British Isles tourist shops. And he knows the only real way to assemble an army now would be to offer them time off from school. And most amusingly, it’s there in the marker-scribbled note for Alex’s mum: ‘Gone on a quest to save Britain don’t worry’.

In addition to the action and comedy, the film also really has a lot of strong, thematic lines going through it. Through this story, director Cornish delivers a heartfelt message about the importance of following a moral code and the power even young kids and teens have to change the world. It’s a film about friendship, loyalty, and trust. About the way the world has changed, and how now, more than ever, we need the next generation to step up and be the heroes we know they can be. The film is not subtle about its messages, reaffirming them over and over again throughout the film, but legends and folktales are typically passed down to teach children certain lessons, and that’s exactly what the film does.

These sentiments add important layers to the film that give it a nice aftertaste. Even if the whole thing isn’t a total slam dunk, you know it’ll age well. And in the process it dispenses a lot of frivolities other major blockbusters meander in. Taking every cliché imaginable and imbuing them with sweetness, charm and ease, making them strengths of the film, as opposed to lazy writing, by someone desperately looking to cash a paycheck. That’s what makes everything here so special. There’s an unabashed desire behind the camera to delight audiences of all ages. It’s a heavy task, but much like Alex, director Cornish is worthy to hold the sword up high.

However the film is let down to an extend by some of its flaws, for example for its massive run time, considering its a family film, it takes a while to get going and when it does the big ideas come on a little abruptly at points. However the biggest disappointment comes in the form of the usage of Rebecca Ferguson. Her character Morgana is never more a plot device than a convincing representative of evil, as a result, Ferguson comes off woefully underrepresented. Also, the logic that identifies Alex with the original King Arthur is never very clear nor are the stakes of the final showdown, in part because realistic violence has been ruled out of bounds.

However, performance wise, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, son of motion capture whiz Andy Serkis, excellently embodies the qualities of a young Arthur-style character, but with the mentality of a modern kid, making for some fun and silly moments in the film. The supporting cast comprising of Denise Gough, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris and Dean Chaumoo also contribute well enough to the film. While Patrick Stewart seems to be having a blast playing the famed magician, it’s his younger version played Angus Imrie who is the showstopper, as he manages to light up the proceedings whenever he is on the screen. On the whole, ‘The Kid Who Would Be King’ is a fun, family-friendly action adventure that works well as a satisfying piece of throwback entertainment.