It's a joy to see that director/writer Joe Cornish ("Attack the Block") didn't just cherry pick a few items, but went totally medieval to embrace Arthurian legend for "The Kid Who Would be King."
Cornish's modern take on the sword-in-the-stone saga is a witty and exciting mix of the best parts of the Knights of the Round Table with modern conventions. The result is a tale of bravery, friendship and respect.
Just as tales of Arthur start with him as a youngster, Cornish turns to a youngster to be the savior of the world. Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) is a 12-year-old who _ along with his best buddy, Bedders (Dean Chaumoo) _ is just trying not to be the daily focus of the school's two main bullies, Lance (Tom Taylor) and Kaye (Rhianna Doris). A run for his life one night leaves Alex in an abandoned construction site, where he spots a sword sticking out of a chunk of rock. He pulls the sword from the stone with ease.
Both Alex and Bedders laugh at the idea this could actually be Arthur's sword Excalibur, but they soon realize the truth. A young Merlin (Angus Imrie) shows up to convince Alex he's the only person who can defeat the evil of Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). Once convinced, Alex goes on a quest to find the answers he needs to stop the threat with help from a motley group of young knights that includes the two bullies.
One of the chief reasons the film works is the casting. Serkis plays Alex with spunk, but not with enough might to back it up when bullied. Once he begins to accept his place, Serkis cranks up the leadership to a more regal level. Chaumoo adds a nice balance playing the sidekick with a bumbling devotion.
The standout in the cast is Imrie, who plays the wacky but wise Merlin. Legend has it Merlin is living his life backwards, so he would look younger the older he grows. When Alex needs a little more mature reassurance, Patrick Stewart takes over as the wizard.
Imrie brings pure energy to the performance, especially when he's a little addled. If there is a short list of actors who should play the lead in "Doctor Who" in the future, Imrie's name should be near the top. Just like The Doctor, he's a strong ally, even if his methods are a little strange.
The actor who should not be overlooked is Ferguson, who is chiseling out a strong and diverse career. Playing Morgana is light years away from her work in "The Greatest Showman," where she was the enchanting Jenny Lind. Ferguson is rapidly becoming one of those actors who can be called on for any challenge.
Cornish has filled most of the production with action sequences where the only lag comes midway as the group travels across the country. The story comes to a boorish stop as the young heroes are trained, a necessity considering the army of demons they must battle. But it doesn't interrupt what is generally a solid flow of action.
The film is aimed at a younger audience, but adults who are willing to be slightly forgiving with some of the key plot points will find the tale entertaining.
