Where the Wild Things Are -- DVD

I am very mixed on this film. Let me start with this. It is very well acted. Max Records is perfectly cast as "Max" and Catherine Keener is lovely as a well-intended if over-taxed single mother. The visuals are very impressive and I enjoyed the puppetry over CGI. But this is a dark film.

No longer is Max a spirited boy sent to his room for the evening. His only real danger -- missing dinner. In the film, Max is a profoundly lonely and angry boy. His sadness is palpable. I cried. The precipitating event that starts his adventure in the land of the wild things results not in a child grounded in the safety of his bedroom but rather a young boy on the streets. He runs out into the night. Alone. This was devastating to watch as a mother.

Even the time with the Wild Things is not an easy, joyful rumpus. Instead it is an outward reflection of the dysfunction in Max's life. He sees how acting out in anger and frustration pushes away the very people (monsters) we need in our life.

The lessons are real and very profound but they are hard-earned. I cried at the end of the film almost as much as at the beginning. I hurt for Max. I hurt for his Mom. I hurt for the Monsters. In case you didn't catch the theme, I hurt.

Now all that said, my children watched this film before me with other family. They asked to watch it several times again. In fact, that is why I saw it. They seemed unfazed by the sadness. They liked the monsters. They liked it.

Honestly, I don't know how to rate this film. I think that it is a good film, if you know the film you are going to see. Do not expect to see a childhood classic coming to life. Expect to be taken on a deeply moving, dark experience. I think that this film would have been better for me had it not been based on one of my favorite childhood books, but it was. So I leave it to you to discover if you enjoy life "Where the Wild Things Are".

Overall:

Age Appropriateness:


Child Attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

I can't rate this a Press Play because I do believe that the adult themes may be upsetting to some children. I give it a marginal Settle In.