Julian RuncanWhere the Wild Things Are: Surprisingly Real
April 11th 2010 16:36
It is pretty difficult to describe Where the Wild Things Are. The film makes you feel nostalgic, but tears down the romantic memories quickly as it reminds you just how hard growing up really was. Director Spike Jonze has said that it should be thought of as a movie about childhood, not a children’s movie, but even this explanation is a little shallow.
The movie isn’t just about growing up. If anything, it’s a reminder that most people don’t. Where the Wild Things Are is about relationships, the interactions of people, and the burdens of leadership. The symbolism lends itself to all sorts of interpretations, and there is no lack material for discussion. Jonze made a lot of great choices for the film, and it’s pretty obvious that taking it in a different direction would have been disastrous.
Max Records is fantastic as the lead, who makes acting with giant Muppets seem easy and natural. The Wild Things themselves are characterized incredibly well, each giving a unique performance with the help of some heavy duty talent in the voice department. The CGI is mixed with animatronics impressively, and the authenticity adds a lot to the final product.
Although well executed, I can see where some people would have issues with some of the pacing and the characters themselves. It certainly isn’t a film for everyone, and it should be known going in that this isn’t just some fluff tale about some kid messing around with monsters. It isn’t inappropriate for kids, but some may find the content a little too heavy to enjoy.
Where the Wild Things Are isn’t a fantasy, but a story about a dysfunctional family told in a fresh way. People might be disappointed if they don’t know what they’re getting into, but they’re just as likely to be pleasantly surprised.
8.0/10
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