King Jack

In the canon of coming-of-age films wherein young men from the forgotten pockets of society must learn to blaze their own trails out of squalor, there is very little room for more members—though many have tried. It may be time for the likes of “The Outsiders,” “Stand By Me,” and “Good Will Hunting” to make room for director Felix Thompson’s triumphant KING JACK. Jack (a pitch-perfect performance by Charlie Plummer) is a 15-year-old left to his own devices, beaten by older townie kids, and chasing a girl who’s no good for him. But, when his younger cousin comes to stay for the weekend, Jack is saddled with entertaining the little guy, and the myriad of troubles for Jack don’t seem too keen in letting up just because he has company. Trying to balance being a guardian for his cousin with being on the lookout for the usual band of bullies, Jack not-so-successfully treads the waters of the weekend, and soon both he and his cousin pay the price. KING JACK is a searing look at the troubles that follow a jester searching for his crooked crown. –T.W.