The Kings Of Summer? Not In The Eyes Of The Critics

It hasn’t been an entirely rapturous reception that’s greeted The Kings Of Summer despite what we thought was a pretty nifty looking trailer.

Watch the trailer for The Kings Of Summer

The film hasn’t been getting panned, but the critics haven’t been unanimous in praise for the flick, which was directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and stars Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso and Alison Brie. The coming of age film is about teenage friends – a bit like Stand By Me then, like every coming of age film about teenage friends is – who decide to build a house in the woods and live off the land. “Uneven, haphazardly constructed, and over-reliant on hackneyed symbols of yearning for independence and self-sufficiency,” wrote The AV Club, which was counterpointed by Variety, which wrote “Toy's House, Jordan Vogt-Roberts' debut feature, is a full-on fairy tale, and one that could win plenty of friends with its absurdist, caustically funny take on adolescent agitation.”

The Village Voice was another to take a disliking to the movie, claiming “As nostalgic projections of boyish freedom by a couple of thirtysomething dudes, the so-called kings are good-enough jesters, but I couldn't help wishing they would shut up more and let the grown-ups talk.” The Wrap though write “The perfect hot-weather diversion for audiences who want summer movie escapism without summer blockbuster gigantism.” So ultimately it look like it all boils down to how seriously you’re taking the movie … and yourself.

Has Jordan Vogt-Roberts created an unlikely Hollywood smash?