For the past several months, every time I heard the uplifting notes of Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” playing on the TV, I stopped what I was doing to be teased by the trailer of the highly anticipated film “Where the Wild Things Are.” I immediately downloaded the song and played it every morning as I awaited the film’s release. So, last Friday, the movie’s opening night, I headed to Green Hills to see if Maurice Sendak’s memorable children’s book could be turned into a legitimate feature film. I discovered, although there is no comparison to the book, the movie expands upon the plot in a unique way, highlighting Spike Jonze’s creativity as a director.
The adorable Max Records plays the little boy Max who, in the book, creates a world of monsters in his room after being sent to bed without supper. In the film, Max is a lonely boy who feels ignored by his older sister and mother (Catherine Keener). Max clearly has some anger issues, as he lashes out and bites his mother while she is having a date at their home. He runs away, takes flight on an abandoned sailboat and somehow ends up in the magical world of the monsters we are so familiar with in the picture book. The recreation of these “wild things” is one of the best aspects of the movie, as they truly resemble the illustrations. Max quickly feels connected to the lonely monster, Carol, voiced by James Gandolfini, which draws him to the group of monsters. He becomes their king, promising to do away with all sadness and declares, as in line with the book, “Let the wild rumpus start!”
The film doesn’t have much of a plot and revolves around building a fort, playing games, and Carol’s constant mood swings. But what it lacks in story line in makes up for in dry humor and striking scenery. The other monsters, though child-like in temperament, have entertaining interactions. My personal favorite is the goat, Alex (Paul Dano), who is constantly ignored and can never seem to get a word in edgewise. The landscape of the film is also beautiful and includes giant sand dunes, a thickly wooded forest and a beach with towering cliffs and crashing waves.
Although I enjoyed the film and its added elements, the movie is not particularly kid-friendly. There are some seriously darker undertones, as Max appears to have some anger issues in addition to loneliness. Carol also appears to have some psychological damage which surfaces when things don’t go his way. In one terrifying scene he’s chasing Max to supposedly eat him and Max must harbor safety in another monster’s mouth! That scene could have easily given me nightmares when I was six.
Overall, the film is a worthwhile cinema experience with a killer soundtrack that helps to backdrop the high energy dirt clod wars and Wild Thing rumpus. But don’t go looking for a perfect recreation of your favorite childhood bedtime story — instead, let Jonze transport you into a world of wild imagination made possible by the art of film.
