Captain Fantastic (2016)

Review

119min

Genre:       Comedy, Drama

Director:    Matt Ross

Cast:         Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Kathryn Hahn…and more

Writer:      Matt Ross

-Synopsis-

After rejecting modern Western society and living off-the-grid in the forests of the Pacific Northwest; a quirky, self-sufficient and self-taught family leave their secluded paradise for mainstream civilisation after the tragic death of their mother. But the profound change will challenge the family dynamic and the father’s ideologies about parenting in the wide world around them, in this idealistic family dramedy from actor-turned-director Matt Ross.

After a varied acting career on both the small and big screen and his 2012 directorial debut ’28 Hotel Rooms’; writer/director Matt Ross brings us a more personal piece in the form of a quirky and highly ideological part family drama and part classic American road movie tale, with plenty to say about how we live in a complicated world.

Viggo Mortensen stars as “Ben”, father of a family raised in isolation in the woods and trained for the harsh realities of life; three boys and three girls ranging from 1st grade to late teens, with the nutritional habits and physical conditioning of young athletes, and a rounded education that would put most school systems to shame.

When the troubling sudden death of their absent mother inspires a road-trip across America to her funeral, where “Ben” is not welcome; the family comes face-to-face with the real world and are challenged by a grandfather who blames their father for their mother’s death, threatening to break up the family and causing “Ben” to re-consider their upbringing and way of life.

Mortensen shines in a nuanced performance as the “Captain” himself; a highly principled patriarch with strong convictions and unflinching honesty, which makes for hilariously candid conversation with his kids, raising a family which resemble an academic, survivalist “Von Trapp” family come ‘The Swiss Family Robinson’.

He leads this self-reliant social commune which borders on a cult, albeit a tender and benign one, as a well-meaning parent who puts his children in situations which might be considered child endangerment, or worse by the society he rejects. The supporting cast of young actors all deliver like seasoned pros, with George MacKay showing true star potential as eldest child “Bo”.

‘Captain Fantastic’ is no doubt a charming and quirky indie comedy/drama in the vein of 2006’s ‘Little Miss Sunshine’; featuring plenty of deadpan humour and some genuinely touching moments within an ultimately heartwarming story, of a family so functional in their world that they’re completely dysfunctional in ours.

But at heart it’s just as much an ideological piece of fiction, presenting revolutionary ideas that are not new but are once again becoming “en vogue”, thanks to an apparent awakening to the realities of the systems we live under. The central theme of the film is clear throughout; a rejection of the capitalist consumerist society which now dominates Western culture, with corporations so powerful they make a mockery of representative democracy and the founding principles of the Unites States… not to mention rallying against organised religion.

Through the prism of a charming family drama, Matt Ross “rages against the machine” and often repeats the mantra of “sticking it to the man’, whomever that may now be; echoing sentiments that seem to be growing throughout society today, but with a 1960s sense of counter-culture nostalgia that’s naive, to put it lightly.

With a social stance which borders on a Noam Chomsky eulogy, ‘Captain Fantastic’ has a clear “Humanist” ethos; but there’s no getting away from its heavily left-leaning convictions which border on socialism, to put it mildly, and when you consider the likely audience for this film it basically amounts to preaching to the converted.

For those who might take issue with the film’s socio-political stance or how naive it may be, or be critical of the lack of focus on the consequences of “Anarcho-syndicalism” and the painful realities of revolution, they’re kind of missing the point. ‘Captain Fantastic’ is unapologetically and intentionally idealistic, hence the title, this is a hopeful dramedy which shows some consequence to “Ben’s” actions, ultimately promoting a compromise and balance between the world as they find it and the one they hope to build.

Aside from its political leanings, there are other aspects that an audience might have an issue with in ‘Captain Fantastic’; Frank Langella is woefully underused as the stern grandfather and clicheed representation of “the man”, while the narrative falters slightly in the 3rd act, culminating in a feel-good conclusion which steps over the line between touching and saccharine. But despite any shortcomings, this is still a charmingly hopeful, moving and thoroughly entertaining Indie effort.

The Bottom Line…

A magnetic Indie dramedy which benefits from accomplished performances from its young supporting cast and a nuanced one from its leading man; ‘Captain Fantastic’ is a wonderfully quirky, entertaining and poignant American family drama with an ideological heart and a rebellious spirit.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

A hilariously dysfunctional family embark on an California bound cross-country road-trip, on a mission to deliver their little girl to a beauty pageant in this multiple award-winning, heartwarming indie modern classic family dramedy.

Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris and starring Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin and Toni Collette among others.

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