Written by Tiffany
Opened October 16, 2009 | Runtime:1 hr. 34 min.
PG: mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language
From the moment the opening credits roll, you know this is Max’s movie. His perspective and his story to tell. Just like the book, this isn’t a happy go lucky fairy-tale of childhood innocence and wonderment. Max’s world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He is sad, lonely, confused and yes, angry. This isn’t just shown in his out of control behavior and soulful eyes; but also in the bleak greyness throughout the movie. There are no bright colors here. No cat in a red-striped hat. They got the spirit and tone of the book spot on!
I took three of my kids: 5 & 18 year old daughters and 13 year old son. The 5 year old seemed to get a little bored, she was more fidgety than usual and wanted to leave the second it was over. In the car she proclaimed it her favoritest movie ever, but she proclaims that about most movies she sees. She’s not really the most reliable or discerning movie critic. My 18 year old loved it and she is pretty particular about her movies. My son said it was OK. He couldn’t really name anything he loved about it. And when I asked him what he didn’t like it, he said the Wild Things noses running all the time was kinda gross. So there’s that. We talked about what the monsters each symbolize and why would the movie makers deliberately give the monsters runny noses (to emphasize their childness, don’t little kids usually have runny noses?) He seemed to like it more, the more we talked about it.
And that, I think, is the key to this movie. While it’s based on a well known and loved children’s book, I think it’s more appreciated by the adults who loved it as kids. And it seems to be written for them. A movie intended for the child inside those adults, and for them to share with their children. I definitely fall into this group. I couldn’t wait for this movie to come out, and to see it with my kids.
There were a couple of scenes where my 5 year old got a little scared, but only for a moment or two. And there were a few places where it seemed to get a little long. I can definitely see small children being bored, it’s not fast-paced or action-packed. No flashy CGI or 3D special effects to be found here. I didn’t bring my 8 year old. He would have been bored out of his skull, made at least three bathroom trips and announced that he wanted to leave by the half-way point.
Did I love this movie? Not as much as I really WANTED to love this movie. I wanted to adore it and rave about it and tell everyone that this is the most wonderful movie ever made. But truth be told, I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful movie. One we’ll buy the minute it comes out on DVD and my kids will watch over and over again. It tells it’s story well, stays true to the book, and was made with Maurice Sendak’s blessing. You can’t ask for better than that. But I think my hopes and expectations were just too high. Impossible to live up to and destined to disappoint. I left the theater with less of a bounce in my step than I’d entered it. I had wanted just a little bit more.
My overall review: while true to the book, it doesn’t transcend it. Younger children may have a harder time staying interested, well-timed snacks are key!
I’m taking my 18 year old daughter too and I can’t wait to see it. I’m so glad they used costumes and not computer generation. Taking kids to the movie and then using it to draw them out on some of their feelings or ideas about what Max is going through is a great idea, not every movie lends itself to that. Seems like it’s easier to get kids to talk about a movie than their own issues but you can see where they are coming from, and how they perceive what’s happening to him.
Thanks Tiffany, we’re getting ready to go see this now. I would have skipped it and just saw Cloudy W/a Chance of Meatballs. I love that book, the visuals are so neat. I saved it from my sons’ childhood for my grandchildren, but have only read it to my last one so far. We’re going to see it in a few days when we one of her friends can go with us.
I like the book Where The Wild Things Are. But, I think I’m going to feel about the movie like you did.
Great review…so honest. I think I might skip this in the theaters and rent it later. I don’t go to the movies much so I prefer uplifting. I know this book is not really “uplifting,” and you made an important point IMO about the colors of the movie. We waited to see Coraline for the same reason.
Now if this were Chicken Soup with Rice, I would have been there on opening day.
Great job on the review Tiffany. Informative and cleverly tells us what we really want and need to know when making the important decision= as movie going is such a part of all of our lives.
It also helps to have your kids’ insight and what they felt. You have a wonderful flair in the telling. Keep up the good work.
Thanks very much Tiffany…..your review was very helpful fr a non-Sendak older male who wanted
input from the NYTimes….very good!
Tiffany, I think it’s hilarious that your 13-year-old boy would be offended by runny noses! They must have been pretty gross. Last Monday I saw Spike Jonze, Catherine Keener, the costume designer, the set designer, and some other key peeps speak about the movie. Catherine Keener was talking about the kid who plays Max, whose name is also Max, and how he was the perfect fit, a bit deeper and more soulful than the usual kid his age (and who adorably loves the Ramones and the Smiths). Tiffany, your review pretty much sums up what I expected after hearing that talk!
Tiffany, I love the way you write your reviews. It is very helpful to get the perspective of multiple viewers of different ages. I have an 18-year-old daughter too. I considered heading to see it this weekend, but she had friends over and I didn’t know if I was up for taking the whole gang!
I think it definitely was a challenge to bring a book as beloved as this one to the screen. Sounds like it succeeded on a lot of levels.
This quote of yours made me laugh:
“The 5 year old seemed to get a little bored, she was more fidgety than usual and wanted to leave the second it was over. In the car she proclaimed it her favoritest movie ever, but she proclaims that about most movies she sees. She’s not really the most reliable or discerning movie critic.”
Eydie, thanks for the additional information on the kid who plays Max. He sounds like a unusual and very mature 10-year-old!
Thanks everyone for your comments!!
And Eydie, Max was the perfect Max. He was so sincere and just wow! Catherine Keener (whom I adore) did a really great job as his mom, too. And just an FYI – the mom’s boyfriend is played by Mark Ruffalo, which was totally surprising! The only person I’ve seen speak about the movie is Maurice Sendak, so that’s how I know that it was made with his approval. He felt that the movie makers not only did his original book justice, but truly understood it.
Lily, we saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs when it opened. I think it is possibly the funniest movie I’ve ever seen. Ever. The kids were riveted, right through the end credits. Not a single bathroom break (that’s how we rate movies at my house, how many bathroom breaks did the kids’ need!) I can’t wait for it to come out of DVD!!
Thanks Tiffany! This isnt a movie I’m interested in- neither is our little one so far. I may be biased though bc I also hated the book as a child!
Loved your review though- I think the runny nose thing would gross me out as well.
I love that book. It was one of my faves to read to my niece when she was little (I also really liked In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There by Sendak – the latter particularly is a beautiful book, very fairy-tale-like and wonderfully written and illustrated).
I will probably catch the movie when it comes to cable. To be honest, I don’t even seem to make it to the movies I really want to see in theaters these days; Where the Wild Things Are is on my list but not high enough that I have much hope of getting to it before it leaves theaters.
Thanks so much for the review!
Tiffany, I went and saw Cloudy W/A Chance of Meatballs today. It was great and so fast paced. I really liked it and the two kids with me were very happy. There were a couple of times I laughed really loud. We had a private showing as we were the only people in the theater. 🙂