Wild Rumpus Gone Wrong: How Self-Acutalization Infiltrated "Where the Wild Things Are"

"It's a movie about divorce angst!" one of my good friends commented as we left the theater last night. "Existential divorce angst!" her husband added. And they were right.

When the previews finally ended and the movie began, I was extremely excited. My childhood nostalgia would be realized in spectacular Hollywood fashion; the reviews I had read had me pumped up. Unfortunately, they set me up for failure. While maintaining a likeness of the book, the spirit of a fun wild rumpus after an early-to-bed from mom lasted for less than thirty minutes in the film.

Instead, we were treated to a complex movie about the fragmented human psyche and the fragile, angst-ridden nature of a nine-year-old boy. I felt bad for the parents who brought young children to this PG affair: there were dark, scary moments that bordered on verbal and physical abuse, several swear words, and no real resolution. Ultimately, while Max comes to self-realization that his explosive (wild) emotions are problematic for his family, we never see him apologize or admit wrongdoing.

Nor do we see his imaginary monster-friends admit their faults. In the end, all that we feel good about is that Max did not end up dead in a gutter. The director, Spike Jonze, said he wanted a movie about an average nine-year-old. He was also told to make the story his own, personal and dangerous. By doing the latter, he neglected the former, making a movie undergraduate psychology students will have a field day with while nine-year-olds struggle to understand what is going on.

Disappointed, two-thumbs-down.

**Update: This is a quote from Brandon Fibbs, who reviewed the movie on his blog: "This is not a film for children. It’s not that the material is objectionable (it’s not) but the manner in which it unpacks its themes leads to a convoluted density and languid pace that will challenge many adult viewers, let alone kids. The film, which takes the classic book in some uncomfortable, melancholy new directions, fashions an emotional texture beguiling to most adults but likely bewildering to children."**

**Also note World Magazine's Review, which is similar to my own. Also note I posted first (just kidding)**

**Update: More evidence from CNN**