This was a movie that took its time revealing the characters, their motivations, their conflicts, their struggles. I loved the main characters, being a nerdy kind of girl myself, and having been raised in a small town in the midwest. I laughed over the small town characters who were SO out of their depth. I loved the compassion that develops. I admire the kindness dramatized. Let's have more Kindness!

I really need to give this movie a second (and third, and fourth, etc.) viewing to give it a proper score, as all Wes Anderson movies slowly reveal themselves to you through time (The Life Aquatic went from a “meh” to one of my fifteen favorite movies of all time in the span of about 3-4 years), but what was clear upon first viewing is that this is one of the most accurate and true depictions of budding-adolescence/not-quite-yet-young-adulthood I’ve ever seen on the screen. The line I keep coming back to is, by Sam to Suzy “I love you, but you don’t know what you’re talking about” in reference to Suzy saying she always wished she was an orphan, like her favorite characters, as their lives are “more special.” Sam and especially Suzy are entering that age where they have to realize their idealized romanticizing of the world isn’t all that relevant or helpful anymore, and even sometimes hurtful and damaging in this new “adult” world they find themselves inevitably hurtling toward, and yet they have to learn to not wholesale discard those parts of themselves, lest they lose themselves wholesale, and instead have to let them remain, but evolve with context and experience. If you forget that part of yourself you become a hardened cynic who will never quite be able to enjoy the tender sweetness’ of life, always looking for the fallout instead of appreciating the apex and the rise to it, and if you let those parts remain but do not constantly attempt to understand and grow them, shape them to fit the new world that reveals itself to you every day, you will become just another childhood trinket unable to connect with your peers, unable to love in the ways we need to be loved as we age, instead choosing to live in the safe bubble of nostalgia and infantilism. It’s a delicate thing us young humans have to do, it’s called “growing up”, and it’s so, so hard to capture on film, and yet, Wes Anderson does, of course.

Kind of odd, kind of kooky, but very entertaining movie that only Wes Anderson can write and direct. If you like his other movies, you will like this one.

I loved this movie, its classic Wes Anderson, though some people might find it too precious. I loved how the 2 kids with emotional issues were the most normal of all the characters. Very stylized, quirky and cute. Great small roles by great actors. Also has a great musical score. Highly reccomended!

Great movie! Loved it!

I liked the stylized charm of this film. It is a couple of steps further removed from reality from the Royal Tenanbaum's or The Life Aquatic. It has more the quality of a fable. If you are a Wes Anderson fan, you will enjoy all the background details that are packed into his settings. However, I thought that the childhood romance at the centre of the story lacked heart and emotional heft. I think the problem was with the character of Suzy, who is very much a younger version of Margo Tenabaum in the Royal Tenanbaums. She's emotioinally cold, spoiled, neurotic and angry at the world. I found her an unsympathetic heroine.

A little strange, quirky. Had greater expectations of it due to its high rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Big name cast in bit parts. I don't believe kids under 10 would like it too much...1 scene perhaps not suitable for them anyway. Perhaps better enjoyed by adults who would be more inclined to romanticize the childhood rites of passage. My family agreed that it was in the vein of Stand By Me and Royal Tannenbaum's. I loved the former; wasn't moved by the latter.

A wonderfully done film! If you avoid a lot of the duds Hollywood churns out, you may want to get your hands on this fresh and original film. You wont be disappointed by this gem!

Reminded me of a modern stand by me or goonies. Also has touches of lord of the flies and where the wild things are.

Peculiar [ "quirky" would be redundant here ] story with great acting [ where do they find these kids? ].. "Indy" film feel to it but first rate cinematography and direction. Everyone on the screen is a joy to watch and Wes Anderson's influence is in every frame [I liked his previous animated "Fantastic Mr. Fox" so much I bought a copy for everyone in my family]. Would've given it 4 stars if the dog's fate had been different... don't know why they chose to spoil a good silly story of innocence with, what seemed to me, an unnecessary visual.