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by Todd Pearage Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language. Directed by Spike Jonze (Adaptation and Being John Malkovich) Starring Catherine Keener, with the voices of James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker and Chris Cooper Todd's Rating: Only if Free Maurice Sendak's classic book comes to the big screen in an adventure tale for a new generation. Where the Wild Things Are follows the adventure of Max (Max Records), a mischievous young boy who runs away after yelling at his mother (Catherine Keener). Max's imagination is free to roam, and it soon transports him to a thriving forest bordering a vast sea. Delighted, he sets sail for the land of the Wild Things, where mischief reigns and Max rules. As a child I was not a fan of “Where the Wild Things Are.” To this day, every time I say that, my wife looks at me like I just said I’d rather read a Jane Austin novel instead of watching a Bruce Willis movie. So I wasn’t exactly excited about the movie. But a few days ago my whole family sat down on the couch and my wife read us the classic children’s book… once again. It only took a few minutes, but it was one of those cool family moments and they were all psyched to see the movie. Me? Well I was worried about how Spike Jonze would handle the book because he’s… well, he’s weird. As in the book, Max is a boy who has a temper tantrum and is sent to his room. However, in the film, he runs away – instead of having his room transform – and he ends up on an island with the “Wild Things.” With the help of animatronics and some A-list actors to voice them, the monsters look as if they jumped right off the pages. The cast is great, I mean seriously, if Carol is a metaphor for anger, could they have found a better actor than James Gandolfini? However, once Max is on the island, things unravel quickly. First, there is no real story. Instead there is a series of incidents that we know will ultimately end with Max returning home. They build a fort and have a “dirt clod” war, but it is not very engaging. Second, Jonze decided to use the hand held camera which causes that dizzy feeling and headaches. They also try too hard to recreate Sendak’s drawings by using a limited color scheme, mostly washed-out greens and browns. There are times when it looks more like a black-and-white movie. Finally, the monsters spend most of the film complaining, making ridiculous threats and swinging back and forth on the emotions pendulum. In the book, the idea that these monsters are Max’s counterparts is clever. In the movie, they are dull, drab, and un-engaging whiners who on occasion swear. Maybe I am crazy, but I just don’t get it. And just so I won’t get that look from my wife, I asked my kids what they thought as the credits were rolling. They both shrugged their shoulders and said, “It was OK.” Then my son added, “They certainly didn’t need to swear.” That being said… it gets an “Only If Free” from me. SHOULD KIDS SEE IT? It may be a little scary for younger viewers, but nothing to keep teenagers away. 
Todd Pearage is a movie buff at heart, but he's not your traditional film critic.
Todd is a blue collar film geek, from his job years ago at Blockbuster to his heartfelt online movie reviews. But
Todd isn't just a film geek. He has worked with middle and high school students since 1991 as a youth pastor in
Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. Todd and his wife Lynda are both graduates of Philadelphia Biblical
University and have two children, Brianna and Caleb. Todd loves sports and movies and is always up for a good laugh.
He is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and his favorite movies include Braveheart and Tommy Boy. Todd's reviews
reflect his love for kids and for his family.
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