"Where the Wild Things Are" Movie Review

As a child, I'm sure everyone at one time or another came across the book "Where the Wild Things Are".  I know some people who cherished it and it played a big part of their childhoods.  I am not gonna lie and say I was one of those people, but I do recall enjoying it and the characters were iconic enough to be remembered long after the last time I read it.  When I initially saw previews for the feature film, the tone of the trailer seemed a little off center, certainly intriguing.  It certainly did not have the look of a kid's film and I wasn't quite sure what they were aiming for.  After the opening weekend reviews were overwhelmingly positive, I decided to go ahead and check it out.  Boy am I glad I did.

The story centers around Max, an imaginative young boy who had to keep himself entertained for the most part.  His sister is grown and more interested in boys, his parents are divorced and his mother works long hours.  Because of this, Max spends most of the time in his own imaginary worlds and acts out for attention.  After one particularly bad and violent outburst due to his mom paying more attention to her boyfriend, Max runs away from home and ends up in the land of the Wild Things.

The Wild Things are a sad, rowdy and directionless bunch who are in desperate need of guidance or entertainment.  Max joins in their ruckus and after almost being eaten, he convinces them that he is an all-mighty king and that he is there to lead them.  The main bond he forms is with Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini).  He is somewhat the big baby of the group, let's his emotions get the best of him and is in most need of a leader; he puts all his faith in Max to make the Wild Things happy and becomes devastated when things don't go his way.  Catherine O'Hara does a good job as the voice of Judith, the stick-in-the-mud Wild Thing who always questions Max's decisions and motive.  I also enjoyed Paul Dano, who played Alexander, the meek and overlooked goat Wild Thing. 

Max and the gang embark on many fun and exciting adventures, but in the end, things don't turn out as perfect as everyone hoped or thought they seemed.  Max learns a valuable lesson, and so do the viewers, and the sequence of Max leaving the island was exceptionally powerful and really hits close to home.  It was the sense of growing up, and learning the importance of the ones you love, that everyone realizes at some point in their youth.

The story and the way the film is presented is top notch.  It is told from Max's perspective, so there's alot of jump editing, loud noises and silly dialogue.  But it's genius, because that's the purpose of the story: to remember what it is like to be a child and see through the eyes of a child.  The Wild Things, from my understanding, seem to all embody a different emotion of Max.  Since they are products of his imagination, the speak like he does, and in certain situations, their actions and emotions mirror that of Max's.  It's really cool storytelling, and I feel director/writer Spike Jonze pulled it off in spades.

I left this film with the feeling of longing for a simpler time.  Being a kid, making up fantasy worlds to escape your problems, just that feeling of no responsibility and no cares, just having fun.  This movie is an embodiment of that, and it will make you smile and possibly even cry.  No, I personally did not cry, but definitely felt tinges of sadness at times.  It's a movie that works on every level, and is a must-see for anyone who is curious about it.  I would say it's probably a little too deep for kids, but if they don't frighten easily they might enjoy it anyway.  Anyway, an awesome film that hearkens back to the magical films of my youth like "The Neverending Story" and "Labyrinth".  That same magical vibe you get from those movies, you get it here.  So refreshing after being force-fed so much bullshit at the theater this year.  GO SEE IT NOW.

RATING: 4 OUT OF 4 STARS