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Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(from the 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival)

Directed by: Bobby Moresco
Written by: Amanda Moresco
Starring: Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Victoria Justice, Kate Burton and Patrick Brennan

Perhaps best known as the Oscar-winning co-screenwriter of “Crash,” Bobby Moresco delivers “Kings” as his third feature directorial effort, on this occasion bringing his daughter’s screenplay to fruition.

From moment one , Irish-inspired music, a rope, a lake, two cousins playing , we’re treated to a cinematic timbre with a familiar, familial feel, like “The Waltons” or “Little House on the Prairie” brought to modern times by dirt bikes and jet skis.

Cousins Will and Clayton sneak out of the house and into the fair after hours to probe the merits of a haunted house story, landing them in a new tale of terror when they think they see their football coach commit murder. From that moment forward, “Kings” is a Hardy Boys mystery with all the right elements as the pair gather evidence to substantiate their story, clear the alcoholic Judge Morgan (whom the town suspects of the murder) and claim the $1,000 reward. That the suspect’s daughter Betsy is the apple of Will’s eye fuels further motivation to Will’s adventure and, eventually, they bring her on board their investigative team.

Appletown’s gossips reach full speed, further indicting Betsy’s father as Will and Clay continue on the trail of clues and come up against cartoon-worthy obstacles: Coach’s super-creepy blind mother (who takes her cereal with a helping of bourbon) scared the bejeesus out of this viewer.

In Will, Moresco has created a great kid character with all the requisite cheekiness and swagger we want from a lead, and young actor Cole Sprouse serves this end nobly. However, for pure acting chops that suggest a long future, set your sights on Victoria Justice as Betsy. In a supporting role, the young actress steals her scenes by providing heart to the film and shouldering an honesty with which an audience can empathize.

In a time of animation, live-action family films that provide enough entertainment to keep an audience glued are in short supply. With classic core values and a trickle of Huck Finn, “The Kings of Appletown” serves up a warm slice of cinematic pie.