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October 21, 2009

'Where the Wild Things Are' innovative, unique

By STEVE OUELLETTE, Movie Review

It's tough to be a kid.

No one knows this better than 9-year-old Max, the hero in Spike Jonze's boisterous adaptation of the beloved children's tale, "Where the Wild Things Are."

Maurice Sendak's slim 1963 book — nine sentences and 338 words — serves as a takeoff point for Max and his dreamlike story. Played by engaging newcomer Max Records, Max is a lonely child with a busy single mom (Catherine Keener) and an older sister who can't be bothered. Against the loneliness, he acts out in some clearly unacceptable ways, and when punished, he runs away "¦ across an ocean to a land of fantastic creatures.

The wild things — nine-foot puppets with computer-generated facial expressions — are both cuddly and dangerous, and they think Max would make a tasty snack. With a mixture of charm and empty threats, however, Max is quickly named king of the wild things and he goes about trying to make all their sadness go away.

This, however, isn't easy.

Max, dressed throughout in an increasingly ragtag wolf costume, is an interesting character. He thinks and feels deeply, but he can be short-tempered and impulsive. He has some depth — he's not merely a wild thing and not merely a stereotypical warm and lovable kid. He seems refreshingly real.

The wild things, with voices that include Forest Whitaker, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Dano and Chris Cooper, turn out to be a bickering and childlike family, with an array of human emotions, flaws and problems. The most troubled is the leader, Carol, voiced by James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos"), a big lovable lug full of barely suppressed anger and frustration who tends to destroy things.

The movie is innovative and unique — surprisingly so for a studio film. It's great fun when the monsters are destroying things, frolicking and having a grand old rumpus. It also tackles some fairly weighty issues, however, and there are some long, gloomy moments.

"Where the Wild Things Are" had what may be the best trailer of the year; it really made you want to see the film. The full-length version isn't quite as successful. It's a feast for the senses of small children (over perhaps the age of 5), but adults might find the lack of any discernible plot to be disorienting, and it drags at certain points.

Still, the film captures the spirit and the visual grandeur of the book. It might not qualify for classic status, but it's very good.

Rental Recommendation: Spike Jonze's absurd masterpiece remains "Being John Malkovich." Grade: A+.

E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com


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