“I saw it with my fiancée and we both felt like it reinforced a lot of ideas we already had about what it means to live a good life... they have settled on a moderate middle ground.” Reddit · r/flicks · 9 years ago
“Ben's arrogance and pride in raising his children this way contradicts his hatred for modern America. He's a tyrant... his kids are all fantastic people, but they have very little free will.” Reddit · r/flicks · 9 years ago
: Some audiences find the children’s superhuman intellectual feats—such as mastering multiple languages and complex physics while living in the woods—to be "condescending" or "unrealistic". Captain Fantastic
Most critics view the film as a "polished and relatable" indie standout that avoids being a simple political fairy tale.
Captain Fantastic (2016) is a thought-provoking and polarizing family drama that explores the conflict between idealistic off-the-grid living and the realities of modern society . Directed by Matt Ross, the film follows Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen) as he raises his six children in the Pacific Northwest wilderness with extreme physical training and a rigorous intellectual education. Critical Consensus “I saw it with my fiancée and we
Despite high scores like its on Rotten Tomatoes , the film faces specific criticisms:
: Critics from outlets like The Guardian have labeled the main character as "smug" or "creepy," questioning if the film's "sanctimoniousness" toward modern society is earned. Community Perspectives his kids are all fantastic people, but they
: The cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine is noted for capturing both the "danger and solitude" of the forest and the "personal family dynamics". Points of Contention