Captain Fantastic
As the ultimate alpha male, Viggo Mortensen raises six children in the wilderness.
Father knows best: George MacKay and Viggo Mortensen (right)
The most wonderfully eccentric family since the one featured in Little Miss Sunshine is here in Matt Ross’ terrific road movie. Ross began his career as an actor and unsurprisingly all the performances in this engaging comedy are outstanding. Viggo Mortensen was born to play Ben Cash, the lovable patriarch, who lives with his wife Leslie and their six children deep in the wilderness of Washington State – far from civilization. The children’s education is provided by the parents who encourage them to live a healthy and honest existence close to nature. But when Leslie dies, the family embarks on a journey cross-country to her parents for her funeral...
Captain Fantastic is a lovely film, both touching and funny in equal measure with a powerful message about corporate America. All the characters are perfectly drawn and the British actor George MacKay is exceptionally good as the oldest son who experiences first love on the road. The supporting cast includes the notorious scene stealers Kathryn Hahn and Steve Zahn as Leslie’s conservative relatives, who find it difficult to cope with Ben’s progressive ideas and values. And don’t be put off by the title (which suggests a superhero adventure). So give yourself a treat and see it!
GEORGE SAVVIDES
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Nicholas Hamilton, Erin Moriarty, Missi Pyle, Ann Dowd, Trin Miller.
Dir Matt Ross, Pro Monica Levinson, Jamie Patricof, Shivani Rawat and Lynette Howell Taylor, Screenplay Matt Ross, Ph Stéphane Fontaine, Pro Des Russell Barnes, Ed Joseph Krings, Music Alex Somers, Costumes Courtney Hoffman.
Electric City Entertainment/ShivHans Pictures-Entertainment One.
118 mins. USA. 2016. Rel: 9 September 2016. Cert. 15.
