Bannière Horizontale JauneWearing its heart not so much on its sleeve as hanging off the end of it, Captain Fantastic is a triumph of pure sincerity and heartfelt good vibes.

Rather “zany” and chock full of the now-staple “American Sundance Movie” tropes (hyper-intelligent children, familial disarray, and a rousing Sigur Rós-centric soundtrack to name a few), Captain Fantastic may irritate a few, but it would take a very cynical person indeed to not be won over by its sheer charm.

Mortensen absolutely shines – both comedically and dramatically – as his troupe of wonderful young child actors bring out the very best in him.

Mortensen excels as Captain Fantastic’s earnest beating heart – with him, the sharp script, and a terrific supporting cast, we could have the next Little Miss Sunshine on our hands.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Frank Langella

DIRECTOR: Matt Ross

WRITER: Matt Ross

SYNOPSIS: After the death of his wife, a man (Mortensen) committed to raising his children away from society must leave their paradise and assimilate to the world.

Captain Fantastic was screened in Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.