Where the Wild Things Are
The brief
Spike Jonze turns Maurice Sendak's beloved picture book into something much weirder and more melancholy than you'd expect, with Jim Henson-style creature suits that feel tangibly real rather than CGI-slick. The film captures the genuine emotional chaos of childhood - Max Records nails that specific bratty energy kids have when they're overwhelmed - while James Gandolfini voices the beast Carol with surprising tenderness and rage. It moves at a deliberate, almost meditative pace that some will find boring and others will find hypnotic, lingering on moments of play and destruction with equal weight. Perfect for fans of Being John Malkovich or anyone who wants their family films to have actual psychological depth rather than just jokes and lessons.
The verdict
If you appreciate unconventional filmmaking and want a children's story that captures the genuine messiness of childhood emotions rather than sanitized Disney lessons, this is a beautifully strange gem with incredible practical effects. If you're expecting a fast-paced family adventure or get impatient with slow, meditative pacing, you'll likely find this boring and pretentious.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for introspective experience
- 👨👩👧👦 Families with older kids who can handle complex emotions
- ⚠️ Young children expecting typical adventure
Heads up
- Child tantrums and emotional outbursts (frequent)
- Fantasy creatures showing anger and destruction (moderate)
- Themes of parental abandonment fears (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Spike Jonze
- Cast
- Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper
Official synopsis
Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol,
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Brother Bear (2003)
Both explore childhood imagination through transformative journeys with wild creatures.
Total runtime: 1h 41m + 1h 25m = 3h 6m
