The film stars Viggo Mortensen as Ben Cash, a man who is raising his six children in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. In the opening scenes of the movie, it seems like these people might be living in some sort of Lord of the Flies-esque manner, but you quickly discover that these might be the most erudite bunch of savages you've ever met. Ben homeschools the children and they are well versed in quantum entanglement and Victorian literature, with the youngest child able to converse intelligently on topics that would stump a college student. If you're wondering where their mother is: her fate will drive the rest of this movie. She has been away for three months due to an ongoing battle with mental illness, and when she finally loses that battle, this unconventional family sets off on a journey into the real world to attend her funeral. Yes, it's a sad premise, but believe me, there's plenty to make you smile as they make their way.
Mortensen anchors the film with a powerful performance that captures all the nuances of this character. He has the difficult task of making the audience empathize with a man who could seem almost too cruel in the treatment of his children (in fact he is accused of abusing them with the unconventional lifestyle that he and his wife have adopted toward child-rearing). However, at no point do you falter in your belief that this is a man who loves his children, and while he might be the most liberal hippie you've ever seen on screen, he never teeters into complete caricature. This is most apparent when he has to deal with other adults (the supporting cast includes such stalwarts as Frank Langella, Margo Martindale, and Kathyrn Hahn), who are people he respectfully disagrees with whilst exhibiting no condescension. There are a few moments when he becomes a crazed loon, but those are generally moments when he is broken down by grief and you cannot fault him for it.
However, the true stars of this movie are the children. Every single child actor in this movie delivers a spectacular performance, charming the audience with their peculiar blend of innocence and intelligence. They make it clear that no matter how bizarre this family is, they feel loved and supported by one another and share a tight bond that will last them through any tragedy. George MacKay, who plays the eldest son, is a particularly fine actor who is certain to go on to many more great projects. He holds his own against Mortensen and delivers a brilliant performance that captures the true dilemma that these children face - they know everything there is to know from books, but absolutely nothing about how to live in the real world.
Written and directed by Matt Scott, Captain Fantastic is a marvelous flight of fancy, an examination of that secret desire we all have to just run away into the woods and live life on our own terms. It's a nice wish, but the movie unveils how the fantasy can't measure up to reality and at the end of the day, we're all just doing our best to get by. It's a funny and moving family drama and while you may not be a part of this family, you'll be grateful you get to at least spend two hours with them.
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