With a cast of some familiar faces, and some new ones, "Captain Fantastic" gives the audience a whirlwind ride through one family's tumultuous and ultimately very enlightening journey through grief. Viggo Mortensen plays Ben, the father of six, who chose an unusual path for his family. They live almost completely self-sufficiently in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. Their lifestyle seems extreme at first, but this film shows how Ben's unique choices created a family based on love and honesty. Things obviously get more complicated and Ben's parenting is called into serious question by various extended family members. This film presents the story of a family facing devastating hardship together and overcoming their differences to find balance in a world that seems so full of extremes.
If that wasn't convincing enough, here are 10 (more) reasons you have to check your local movie times and go see this movie immediately!
1. It features some AMAZING shots of the PNW.
Much of the movie was actually filmed in Washington, specifically Gold Bar, Snohomish, Deception Pass, and Sultan.
2. It makes you question our education system.
Ben teaches his kids primarily through reading. They are extremely disciplined and studious with their "school." There is a great scene where Ben calls in his daughter, Zaja, who has not attended school a day in her life, to explain the Bill of Rights. He also asks his nephews, who had been raised "normally" to do the same, and they cannot keep up with their far younger cousin.
3. This movie, though maybe unintentionally, has some serious feminist undertones.
It shows brothers and sisters being raised in the exact same way. There are three boys and three girls in the family and their father treats all six of them the exact same with the same expectations. They all start the day with "training" and it's not just for the boys this time!
4. It's a comedy.
I know a lot of what I've mentioned previously makes it seem like this movie is a serious drama, but in fact, it's got a fair amount of comedy slipped in there. When Ben's oldest son interacts with a girl his own age outside of the family for the first time, the encounter is equally awkward and hilarious.
5. It does not tell a single story, but a complex story from many different sides.
It will make you fall in love with the idea of living off the grid, and then it will show you how much can fall apart if you do.
6. It's real.
It seems like Ben and the kids live a fantastical, almost imaginary life, but when it comes down to it, they are a real family living real lives, experiencing real feelings. Ben is not uncompromising and at one point he almost lets go of the dream to keep his family isolated in their own utopia. Of course, things can never go back to exactly the way they were, but he works to find a middle ground.
7. The youngest kid is so freaking cute!
Toddler-aged Nai is an adorable, blonde-haired, super-smart cutie. He prefers to wear his shark suit or a hat made out of some forest animal, he probably killed himself. Don't worry you'll be in love with him in two seconds.
8. It deals with difficult subjects like mental health, family differences, and loss in a thoughtful way.
Without giving too much away, Ben and his kids go through something tremendously difficult and they all have different, but all very human responses to this.
9. It will surprise you.
The first scene includes the brutal death of a deer and I looked to my friend, Mads, and said, "What did we get ourselves into?" hoping we would be able to leave without being noticed. Fortunately we were right in the middle of the row, and we decided to stick it out awhile longer. Well, thank God we did!
10. This movie will make you cry and laugh within the first 20 minutes.
Above, is a shot of the family spying and plotting against their grandparents. You're gonna have to go see it to find out why, though...
The juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy is so real in this film, but they do a great job of not making it seem overdone. It's something unique and definitely not like any movie I've seen before. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
