Video/DVD Review: Where the Wild Things Are
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that director Spike Jonze's adaptation
of Maurice Sendak's
Where the Wild Things Are isn't appropriate for younger
kids, even those who adore the book (there's a big difference
between looking at a beautifully illustrated children's story
and watching a live-action movie full of sights and sounds that
will probably scare the average 4-year-old). The movie explores
mature themes of loneliness, insecurity, and fear of change,
both within Max's human family and the one he finds on his
adventure. The island that Max lands on can be a scary and dark
place, and the Wild Things themselves aren't above threatening
(repeatedly) to eat Max, as well as becoming hot-headed and
destructive (and when a Wild Thing gets destructive, it can be
quite intense). The movie also has a slower, dreamier feel than
many other kids' movies, and relationships and storylines
aren't always neatly resolved. There's some mild language
("damn," "stupid") and a quick glimpse of Max's mom and her
boyfriend drinking wine and kissing, but otherwise the PG
rating is due mostly to Max's occasionally frightful time with
the mysterious Wild Things.
- Families can talk about what makes Max scared and angry. Why does he get mad at his sister and his mom? What does he want from them? What does he learn about families from his time among the Wild Things?
- Each of the Wild Things has a personality, opinions, and concerns. Are the Wild Things symbolic of different character traits? Kids: Which Wild Thing was the most relatable?
- How does the movie compare to the book? How did the filmmakers change the story? Does an adaptation have to to translate exactly what's in a book to be faithful? How do you think the movie might be different if it were meant for younger kids?
Director Spike Jonze and co-writer Dave Eggers' adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are fleshes out Maurice Sendak's protagonist Max (Max Records) to provide a reason behind his wolf suit-wearing mischief. He's an imaginative kid with boundless energy. But when his mom (Catherine Keener) doesn't seem to have time for him, he snaps, tries to bite her, and runs away. Suburban woods lead him to a sailboat that heads straight to a mysterious island inhabited by Wild Things. Unlike in the book, each movie Wild Thing has a distinct name and personality: There's insecure Carol (James Gandolfini), sarcastic Judith (Catherine O'Hara), sweet Ira (Forest Whitaker), misunderstood Alexander (Paul Dano), wise Douglas (Chris Cooper), and loving KW (Lauren Ambrose). Max persuades the Wild Things not to eat him by claiming he's a king with special powers. At first ruling the island a joy -- "let the wild rumpus start!" -- but as time passes, Max begins to disappoint the dysfunctional monsters, and he eventually grows fearful that they'll realize he's just a boy pretending to be a wolf pretending to be a king.
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