Where the Wild Things Are is the story of Max, a 10 year old boy, who lives with his sister and mother. One night while he is trying to garner the attention of his mother away from her boyfriend, he goes too far and bites her. Seeing that he’s upset her he flees the house into an empty lot in his neighbourhood. There he finds a boat that takes him to an island inhabited with some very large, very ugly, very aggressive creatures. Quickly becoming their King, Max begins to realize that things are not always as they seem, everything can’t be solved simply because you want it to and that no one has all the answers.
It is difficult to highlight all of the incredible things about this movie. Everything from the way every character is complete, even if only on screen for moments to the digital effects was excellent, seamless and only added to the overall effect the story had on its viewers – and the effect was not insignificant. Throughout the theatre there were stares of wonder, bursts of laughter and gasps of incredulity. Following Max, a boy trying to find his way into a new age and a new understanding of his world, is probably the most realistic representation of childhood ever put on screen. It’s so raw, so simplistic, so unwavering in its view that it’s almost uncomfortable. Max isn’t a good boy, but also not a bad one and the facets of the human character as it evolves are discussed in detail, always with a gentle and understanding eye. The film is shot almost entirely from Max’s viewpoint and the camera is always at his level, never looking down.
Much of the film’s strength comes from the complexity of the Wild Things themselves, which was achieved through a mix of physical effects and costumes and digital. In a sense, this film has shown us the very best of what digital has to offer, used in an enhancing, nuanced way and never in place of a physical effect. Enhanced brilliantly by the incredible voice talent in this film, none of the Wild Things are the cartoon-y throw away characters that you find in most children’s movies today. In this way it allows for the exploration of Max’s imagination that still seems real and remains something the viewer can really sink their teeth into.
Despite countless other attributes the film’s greatest attribute is Max himself. Played by 13 year-old Max Records, who was only 9 when the film was shot, Max is a full and complete character, with all the complexities of an actual child. So often in film we distill children down to their adorable, white-washed, innocence clearly forgetting that when we were that age we were actually human too. In fact, the many flaws in Max’s character are the most interesting part of the film, which clearly came out of Jonze’s understanding that in order to get a great performance out of a child you need to let them be one. It’s this unwavering eye that is actually the main source of criticism from the critics, many saying that the ending gets too dark for many children. I disagree. It’s the fact that so many of our children’s movies are candy-coated distillations of anything that a child might actually encounter in life designed only to make them feel good about themselves rather than to show them anything that might actually approximate reality. Where the Wild Things Are does not suffer from the need to pander.
Where the Wild Things Are is, despite all possible cliches from this declaration, an instant classic. It’s a must-see and, if you can, take a child or two with you. They’ll find their inner adult, while you connect with your inner child.
