More like Crazy Things

I worked in a bookstore for years. In the kids section there was a book I regularly had to find for people that was always in stock. There was a monster, a sail boat, some trees, and in big bold letters across the top it said “Where the Wild Things Are.” I must have picked up and flipped through that book a hundred times and for some reason I never had an interest in reading it. It wasn’t cuz it was a kids book, I read many of them just for knowledge or it looked cool, but this one just never grabbed me. And after watching the movie on Friday I think I may know why.

It is boring.

I know many people will be upset by the following. If you hold this book near and dear to your heart and you liked the movie do not continue cuz I have very few nice things to say.

I never read the book as a child. I guess cuz I wasn’t born in Canada and neither were my parents so it wasn’t something they knew about. Therefore I don’t have any fond memories of the book and it is not something I cherish. But when I saw the trailers for the movie it looked interesting and I was interested in finally finding out what the story was about. I was sorely disappointed.

Where the Wild Things Are is about Max. He is a troubled little boy who runs away from home one night and finds himself on an island with the wild things. They make him their king and set out to make their lives happier under his rule. The movie has a lot of voice talent including James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper, and Lauren Ambrose.

This is not a kids movie. I know it is meant for them but it just isn’t. The movie is well acted I suppose. Max (Max Records) does seem troubled but more on the side of crazy and you do believe it. But at no point do you feel anything for this little boy. He’s just seems mean and goes wide eyed to invite sympathy but there is no reason to. The monsters are wild and also emotionally unstable. It just didn’t make much sense to me. It is not that I didn’t understand it was just pointless. Not endearing, wonderful, or whimsical.

Spike Jonze captures some beautiful images and moments throughout the film. They are amazing 3 second sequences that make you literally say “wow”. But because there is nothing happening the rest of the movie they are lost in a wasteland. He really does have an eye to create moments and I believe that is why he has made some of the best music videos out there but it has not translated well to a full length film in this case.

Also there isn’t enough content in the movie. It just drones on for the hour and forty minutes. And that is the biggest reason why this failed. There was so much wasted time in the movie where nothing happens that you lose interest. This really should have been a 30 minute cartoon.

I am not saying to book was bad but the movie is. I cannot compare the two and properly discuss what was left in or taken out or what artistic license was taken. But even if the movie is based on a book the movie should be able to stand on its own. And because of how boring the movie was the likelihood of me ever reading the book for any reason has greatly diminished to almost non-existent.

I can’t recommend Where the Wild Things Are. Many people will still see it anyways because they loved the book. But as a movie it is just no good.

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