Review: Where the Wild Things Are

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Where the Wild Things Are

Warning: The following review may contain spoilers for the few people unfamiliar with the book from which this movie is adapted.

Daring to adapt a beloved book is risky business. Any changes and someone is offended, and adding material is sacrilegious. But what about when the original author approves the changes? 

Maurice Sendak's much beloved, critically acclaimed children's book Where the Wild Things Are has become one of the most anticipated films of the year. Even the jaded have admitted to tears over the trailers alone. Unfortunately, the magic of the book and the trailers doesn't completely translate to the full-length feature. 

Despite only being 10 sentences long, the 1963 book has been imprinted on the mind of more than one generation as a most beloved tale of imagination and childhood ferociousness. "Let the wild rumpus start!" is an eternal meme guaranteed to bring smiles. 

Sendak enthusiastically delivered his story into the hands of Spike Jonez after being impressed with Being John Malkovich. Jonez, in turn, does just about everything right: the creatures look exactly like the original drawings. The music is sublime, and the casting divine. The locations and cinematography, along with the puppetry, ought to equate to one amazing film. 

Max is a little older than he is in the book, but Max Records, in his first film, gives us an incredible, authentic and relatable Max. His unabashed glee and mercurial moods are spot on; audiences will get whiplash wanting to hug him then howl with him.  The voice actor cast for the Wild Things reads like a Who's Who of underappreciated cinematic powerhouses, from Chris Cooper to Lauren Ambrose.

But something isn't quite right. As refreshing as it is to see a film explore the darker aspects of children's fantasy and psyches, Where the Wild Things Are feels too intentional.  The Wild Things' personal conflicts are explored so intently, it turns the magic into a therapy session. The Wild Things represent feral emotions, and they simultaneously revel in and resent Max's presence. Primal emotions aren't so simple, as Max knows from personal experience.  Having all those emotions living together on one island isn't so harmonious, either. Perhaps it's that dissonance that keeps it from being sublime. Or perhaps it's Max's spontaneous need to leave, and the lack of any dialogue when Max returns home.

That’s not to say Where the Wild Things Are is not a good movie -- it is. It's worthy of multiple viewings. But it may not live up to the admittedly high expectations many of us had for the film.

Austin connection: Where the Wild Things Are does have a small local connection. The Daniel Johnston song "Worried Shoes" is part of the movie's soundtrack.