Few films capture the wonder, amazement, and the crapstorm of emotions being a kid entails more effectively than Where the Wild Things Are. Thinking back to the movies I loved as a child, most if not all in some way endeavored to show that the trials of growing up were just as rigorous as those of adults. Being an adult now(although some might argue that), I find that most of those movies have lost a lot of their original appeal. Nothing that's come out over the last few years has really reminded me of what it was really like to be a kid again. Ok, maybe The Sandlot, but that was 16 years ago(!!)
Based on the 1963 classic picture book from Maurice Sendak, the film expands on the story's sparce 10 lines of dialogue. Max(Max Records), a precocious young boy with a sister who is starting to ignore him and a mother(Catherine Keener) who is too busy with work and her new boyfriend, is having trouble dealing with the sudden changes in his life. Acting out in a fit of rage, he trashes his sister's room and bites his mother. Perhaps he didn't like the taste, because he runs away and hops in a small boat and sails away. Fighting through a horrific rainstorm, Max lands on an island inhabited by huge furry creatures. Most are monstrous, others look like like goats or even a chicken. The creatures seem to be ill at ease with their situation, and infighting has taken hold. Max calms the situation by announcing to them that he is their king, and that he will make things better.
The Wild Things are never full explained. Nor should they be. This is the work of a child's imagination mostly. Borne from the Jim Henson Creature Shop, they are the most visually and emotionally vibrant special effects monsters I've seen. Their faces are mostly CGI, granting them a range of expression rarely seen. Obviously, each Wild Thing is more vocal than they were in the book, and each is presented as their own unique personality. James Gandolfini takes the leader role as Carol, who strikes me as the closest to Max's own personality. The rest are voiced by a wealth of talent: Catherine O'Hara as the downer Judith; Lauren Ambrose as the ethereal KW; Forest Whittaker as Ira, Judith's husband; and Paul Dano as the meek Alexander.
The story itself is pretty simple. Max and the Wild Things engage in a rollicking few days of rough horseplay and fort building; dirtball fights and play wrestling. The soundtrack is appropriately upbeat and often as mesmerizing as the visuals. One of my biggest fears was that this would be little more than a series of music videos, but fortunately it never devolves to that point. Sendak, who was one of the producers of the film, hand picked Spike Jonze to be the director after watching Being John Malkovich. While I've never been a fan of that film, Jonze was the perfect choice for this one. He has a knack for giving his movies an almost surreal, dreamlike quality.
I have a feeling Where the Wild Things Are will appeal more to adults than kids. That's not to say kids won't enjoy it. Most kids will easily be able to identify with Max and feelings. They should also have a ton of fun with all the ruckus that gets kicked up. But at it's core, this story has always been about one boy finally figuring out a way to deal with his own anger, and every scene is another step in that process. I'm not sure kids of a certain age will be able to appreciate that. There are a couple of scenes smaller children might find a little scary, but it's nothing nightmare enducing.
If I have one complaint, and it is truly a minor one, I would've liked to have seen perhaps a bit more of Max's home situation just to put some of his feelings into context. A remarkable job is done getting across exactly how Max feels about everyone in his life, with little to no words, only by a few looks and gestures. That goes to the strength of Max and Catherine Keener's performances. The film ends on a scene that's so understated and perfect, I wouldn't dare spoil it. Just see it for yourself, and prepare to feel like a kid all over again.
8/10
