Where the Wild Things Are

Directors:Spike Jonze
Release Date: 16 October 2009

 

Connie: Catherine Keener
Max: Max Records
Connie’s boyfriend: Mark Ruffalo
KW (voice): Lauren Ambrose
Carol (voice): James Gandolfini
Judith (voice): Catherine O’Hara
Ira (voice): Forest Whitaker

 

In 1963 Maurice Sendak wrote a 10 line children’s book that has delighted children and adults ever since. One thing you can be sure of, it’s not easy to turn a child’s imaginary world into a workable film. This team rose to the challenge and came up with a novel mix of real life and animation to carry the film through.

The film is the story of Max, played by the delightful Max Records, it is about a boy who is disobedient and is sent to his room without dinner. For those of us still able to remember that far back we can perhaps recall that being sent to your room was not necessarily the worst thing that could happen. With imagination and the desire to leave the every-day (especially if that included a step-father you weren’t fond of) a child on his own in his bedroom could keep himself entertained for hours.

M ax takes us on a journey into a land with many wild and magical animals who are in desperate need of a king. The ask Max to take the job and our hero learns that having all the power doesn’t necessarily mean getting things your own way, or even getting all the answers right.

The film itself is beautifully put together. The folding together of live action and animation is handled well and you are able to suspend disbelief and go on this adventure with Max. Spike Jonze directs, his previous work includes Being John Malkovich, and he is up to the task here. He has a gentle touch that is important with this story. The overall effect is of being drawn into this boy’s imagination.

 

 

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