Movie Review: Where the Wild Things are

'Where the Wild Things Are' is not a movie for kids, it is unfortunate that it is being marketed as one. It also bears a rather weak message on how being a family is hard and how being a kid is apparently torture.

The film has been adapted from Maurice Sendak's book of the same name, which actually was a simple novella containing ten sentences. Director Spike Jonze turns it into a 90 minute film and juices it up with some high brow commentary on how the book meant for 4 to 8-year-old kids connects with them on some higher level. I have not yet met an eight-year-old replete with life-affirming understanding, philosophising about all kinds of things. They all just want to have fun. As a result 'Where the Wild Things are' turns out to be an adaptation with a focus on running time rather than substance.

The film revolves around Max (Max Records) who runs away from home after being bullied by his sister's friends and dealing with his single mom's new boyfriend. While on the run Max stumbles upon a fantasy island inhabited by large, hostile furry creatures who are more than happy to devour him. However Max bluffs his way out of the situation and eventually befriends the wild things, and becomes their king. Expectedly Max gets more than he bargained for, and the rest of the film involves his relationship with the beasts, and his journey towards acceptance in the real world.

The monsters from the book are all present in the film, along with a few new ones. The beasts mirror (though not entirely successfully) the people in Max's real life, like his sister who is growing apart from him, and his mother who neglects him time and again in favor of her new boyfriend. In the end the story about the monsters turns out to be meandering and unconvincing. The fantasy was supposed to be a companion piece for Max's loosening bonds with his family, but it never gets there. One never gets the impression that Max learns anything from the experience. The connections are paper thin and meaningless.

To be fair, 'Where the Wild Things are' has been shot and rendered beautifully. The monsters are startlingly realistic thanks to Jim Henson's creature effects and the top notch CGI faces. The voice casting couldn't have been better either, James Gandolfini is excellent as the lead monster Carol. Also Paul Dano's soft-spoken delivery nicely conjugates a horned monster with sharp teeth. Lance Acord's cinematography is beautiful to behold and so is the music by Karen O. and Carter Burwell. Its frustrating that the breathtaking combination of touching music and gorgeous imagery make for an empty, purposeless film.

'Where the Wild Things are' is not too scary for kids, its just too boring. If you're a kid you'll be wondering why the film is so depressing. And you wouldn't be reading this long review either.