Movie Review: Where the Wild Things Are: child-friendly hit or miss?
Christy Fayette & Alyson Levitz-Jones
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
"Where the Wild Things Are" follows the all-too-familiar scenario of a classic children's book turned into a movie. But before you continue along that path of assumption-the one that presumes that if you read the book you will not like nor have to see the movie and vice versa-think again; not only are the Wild Things a fascinating and entertaining gang, but the movie encompasses a multitude of emotions that go beyond the nostalgia of revisiting a favorite childhood read.
The film introduces the Wild Things as friends who enjoy beating up on each other and find camaraderie over breaking things. The protagonist of the film, Max, is a mischievous child who finds himself crowned king in the imagined land of the wild after fleeing his emotional struggles in the real world, particularly his feelings of loneliness as his mother goes on dates and his older sister grows perpetually "too cool" for him. For the duration of the movie, Max and his Wild Things go around conversing about life while bonding over violent fun, such as throwing things at each other. The audience is quick to discover Max's behavior as therapeutic as he outlashes his pain, anger and sadness through physical violence.
On the outside, the clan of Wild Things seem simplistic and to care solely about causing trouble, but Max finds out that they too are battling deeper, personal issues which are similar to Max's emotional turmoils. At this point in the movie and throughout the beginning home scenes, viewers see the thematic elements that make Where the Wild Things Are a film with ideas not entirely understood by young children and ones that go beyond the light-hearted mood of the book.
At times the film is tense and emotional, yet it does not dwell on the sadness for too long. A good portion of the middle of the movie is just the Wild Things being, well, wild. Watching the film, especially during its light-hearted parts, is a great way to kick back and escape to the carefree side of life, where there are no consequences for punching a hole in the side of someone's hut.
The film introduces the Wild Things as friends who enjoy beating up on each other and find camaraderie over breaking things. The protagonist of the film, Max, is a mischievous child who finds himself crowned king in the imagined land of the wild after fleeing his emotional struggles in the real world, particularly his feelings of loneliness as his mother goes on dates and his older sister grows perpetually "too cool" for him. For the duration of the movie, Max and his Wild Things go around conversing about life while bonding over violent fun, such as throwing things at each other. The audience is quick to discover Max's behavior as therapeutic as he outlashes his pain, anger and sadness through physical violence.
On the outside, the clan of Wild Things seem simplistic and to care solely about causing trouble, but Max finds out that they too are battling deeper, personal issues which are similar to Max's emotional turmoils. At this point in the movie and throughout the beginning home scenes, viewers see the thematic elements that make Where the Wild Things Are a film with ideas not entirely understood by young children and ones that go beyond the light-hearted mood of the book.
At times the film is tense and emotional, yet it does not dwell on the sadness for too long. A good portion of the middle of the movie is just the Wild Things being, well, wild. Watching the film, especially during its light-hearted parts, is a great way to kick back and escape to the carefree side of life, where there are no consequences for punching a hole in the side of someone's hut.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Rachel
posted 11/11/09 @ 12:43 AM EST
You must not have children. I love the book but this movie is ridiculous. It is loud and violent and not appropriate for young children. Secondly, Max is a character that seems to find his way into the Wild Things world by lying. (Continued…)
Riley
posted 11/15/09 @ 4:57 PM EST
I agree. It is a horrible movie. It dwells on mood swings and is disturbing. There is PLENTY of violence and it is not something children should watch. (Continued…)
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