While I’m sure it isn’t this cut and dry, it seems like most people either love Wes Anderson’s work or really doesn’t like it … or at least doesn’t get it. And I can’t blame them too much … Anderson fills his films with a menagerie of the quirkiest characters ever quirked, tinted with a good dose of 60s and 70s influences stemming from music, clothing and hazy movie hues. I know plenty of people who adore Rushmore, but personally I think his most successful movie story-wise is The Royal Tenenbaums. It also happens to be my favorite of his movies.

Well, he’s coming out with a new film and if the trailer is any indication, Moonrise Kingdom should fit in nicely (at least visually) with his earlier work.

Again, if you’re not into quirky characters, turn back while you still can … but I’m excited for this one. The side characters look fun, and the movie has all the weirdness that I’ve come to enjoy in Anderson’s movies. There’s something fun about adults taking something like this so deadly seriously. I only wonder if the two main actors will be able to pull these characters off or if their ennui will bring the movie down. They both seem like littler versions of Margot in Royal Tenenbaums and I’m not sure if having two of those characters in one movie will work. However, I am super excited about the cast, which includes Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.

But there’s another reason I’m excited about Moonrise Kingdom, and it also has to do with the cast. My friend and JPS guest reviewer Chris O’Brien is in it! See the photo at the top of this post? He’s the greaser leaning over the car on the right. I’m not sure how big his role is (I asked him if his character had a name and he just laughed), but Chris told me he should be in a few scenes. I’m thrilled for him, not only because he’s in “da movies,” but because he gets to be a part of such a great director’s work.

Moonrise Kingdom is getting a limited US release starting on May 25, 2012. I’ll be there – will you?