Movie Review: Where the Wild Things Are

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (2009)

Director: Spike Jonze
Writers: Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers
(based on book by Maurice Sendak)
Cinematography: Lance Acord
Music: Karen O and Carter Burwell
Production Designer: K.K. Barrett
Costume Designer: Casey Storm
Max…Max Records
Mom… Catherine Keener
Boyfriend… Mark Ruffalo
Carol…voiced by James Gandolfini
KW…voiced by Lauren Ambrose
Douglas…voiced by Chris Cooper
Ira…voiced by Forest Whitaker
Judith…voiced by Catherine O'Hara
Alexander…voiced by Paul Dano
MPAA rating: PG
Running Time: 100 minutes

Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars

Adapting a popular children's book into a feature film can be quite a difficult task for most filmmakers. But when you take one of the most beloved classics in children's literature like Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, and put it in the hands of a smart, innovative director like Spike Jonze, the result is a fantastic work of art that proves to be one of the best films of the year. Jonze successfully stays true to the spirit of the source material while still adding his own artistic vision; taking bold liberties both visually and narratively that really bring Sendak's story to life. The film captures the playful, imaginative aspects of childhood as well as the raw, sometimes painfully emotional side thanks to the outstanding performances from the entire cast. Overall, Where the Wild Things Are is a perfect blend of breathtaking visuals, exciting adventure, and powerful emotional themes.

The film follows a rambunctious little youngster named Max (Max Records) who feels neglected and misunderstood by his older teenage sister and his struggling single mother (Catherine Keener). After being sent to his room for misbehaving, Max escapes to an island inhibited by strange creatures with realistic, child-like personality traits. He quickly wins the affection of the 'Wild Things' and they crown him as their leader. Max promises to create a place where everyone can be happy, but soon discovers the difficulties of trying to please everyone and finds himself yearning to return home.

Some of the strongest aspects of the film come from the changes to story made by Spike Jonze and screenwriter Dave Eggers, such as the decision to give names and distinct personalities to each of the Wild Things. Jonze brilliantly uses the individual creatures to symbolize the different sides of Max's personality. Among them are the short-tempered and smothering Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini), the wild, free-spirited KW (Lauren Ambrose), and the young, insecure Alexander (Paul Dano). Despite being made of large animatronic suits with CGI faces, the Wild Things prove to be just as real and complicated as the film's human characters.

Spike Jonze, who is best known for his idiosyncratic style, takes a much different approach with this film. His previous films (Being John Malkovich and Adaptation) were very analytical and unconventional, whereas Where the Wild Things Are is rather simple and straight-forward, yet still a little bit edgy. It is important to note that this is not your typical family film. While most family films these days feature action-packed 3D animation, talking dogs, or crime-fighting guinea pigs, Where the Wild Things Are is much more raw and dramatic. Like the recently popular Disney/Pixar films like WALL-E or Up, this film features emotionally complicated material that might be difficult for younger kids to really understand. Nevertheless, I believe that people of all ages can appreciate Where the Wild Things Are in one way or another, whether it's the beautiful imagery, the outstanding acting performances, or the powerful, heartfelt adventure of Max's journey.

Trailer: