Where the Wild Things Are

It’s a Chickflix first! Adventurous Chick, Arty Chick and Mainstream Chick all contributed to the $33 Million box office take for Where the Wild Things Are in its opening weekend, and each had her own views to share on the children’s-book-turned-live-action-movie. Rather than fight over who gets to (or has to) write the review, the Chicks hashed it out in a roundtable discussion. Here is how it went:

Adventurous Chick: I had been looking forward to this movie ever since I saw the preview months ago and I really, really, wanted to like it but I was kind of disappointed.

Arty Chick: It wasn’t the book, but I liked it.

Mainstream Chick: I liked the visuals and I thought the boy was really good (Max), but I was bored through a major chunk of the first hour.

Adventurous Chick: As was I, and here’s where I fess up that I did indeed doze off during the first hour.

Arty Chick: How could you be bored?

Mainstream Chick: I’m just not sure who the target demo is supposed to be for this movie. It has some themes and scenes that would not sit well with my 5-year-old niece. And my 13-year-old nephew is way too old for it. So it may have very limited appeal.

Arty Chick: But we’re talking about you. Why were you bored?

Mainstream Chick: ‘Cause parts of it were boring.

Adventurous Chick: I think it was for us adults who read and loved the book as children, but it didn’t do it for me either.

Arty Chick: Sendak said he was happy that it was darker than the book.

Mainstream Chick: It was like a scary version of H.R. Puffenstuff. When the puppet’s arm rips off – ick!

Adventurous Chick: I thought it was psychoanalysis with puppets.

Arty Chick: It was. But what is wrong with that? I think they did it well. But as a kid would see it. That is what happens to puppets, or stuffed animals. No big whoop.

Adventurous Chick: I actually liked that it was scary. And the puppet arm ripping off didn’t bother me. I thought the twig arm replacement was funny.

Arty Chick: I loved the kid.

Adventurous Chick: The kid was excellent and visually the movie was phenomenal.

Mainstream Chick: I don’t think there are many parents out there who would be okay with a kid that old biting them… without punishment.

Arty Chick: I thought that it was interesting to see how a kid would see things in the world with puppets acting out his problems. He got his punishment. He was away from home and it wasn’t all wonderful.

Adventurous Chick: No that was not good (the biting). But the point is the kid is wild, a beast. I guess I just wanted more action, less digging into what was going on in his warped little mind.

Arty Chick: There was lots of action. Running around, building a straw/twig fort, jumping on each other.

Adventurous Chick: True, but it was overshadowed by the other stuff for me.

Arty Chick: I thought the Wild Things were wonderful. In the book they don’t have any specific characters. They are all just Wild Things. But here they are all individuals with entirely different personalities.

Adventurous Chick: I guess I didn’t expect it to be so “deep.”

Arty Chick: The book was so slim, it had to be deeper. Otherwise, it would have been a short.

Mainstream Chick: Short would have been good.

Arty Chick: Was your expectation going in that it would be the same as the book?

Mainstream Chick: Honestly – I don’t remember the book. I remember reading it, and liking it well enough. But I don’t remember any details.

Arty Chick: It was one of my all-time favorites.

Mainstream Chick: I like how the lead character is named Max.

Arty Chick: If I had a nephew named Max, so would I.

Mainstream Chick: Thank goodness my nephew Max never bit anyone. As far as I know.

Arty Chick: I did love the opening with Max chasing the dog.

Adventurous Chick: The opening was brilliant.

Mainstream Chick: And there were some funny moments.

Arty Chick: And some good gross moments, too.

Adventurous Chick: There was some fun, some action, and I can’t put my finger on it exactly but it just wasn’t what I wanted.

Arty Chick: I liked the names of the Wild Things though. Carol. Judith. Ira.

Mainstream Chick: Yes. They were good solid ‘real’ names.

Adventurous Chick: They were funny.

Mainstream Chick: And we all know actual people with very similar traits to the characters (Except the one who now has a twig where his arm should be).

Adventurous Chick: You don’t know anybody with prosthesis?

Arty Chick: Or a twig?

Mainstream Chick: Good point. Don Harrison had a wooden leg. And he was a cool, funny guy.

Adventurous Chick: You could put an eye out with that thing.

Mainstream Chick: My eye doctor had a wooden leg.

Adventurous Chick: We’re getting way off topic. Sum it up chicks.

Arty Chick: I’d say if all you want is action, wait for Toy Story 3, 4, 5. But if you like characters, see it. And I thought the costumes were great!

Mainstream Chick: Rambunctious 7-10 years olds might like this movie. And adults who loved the book should go see it with them. Beyond that – I say, catch a cheap matinee. Or wait for the DVD and hope for some really cool behind the scenes extras.

Arty Chick: The voice actors did a wonderful job, too.

Adventurous Chick: I did want action, scary, fun, action, and this had its moments. But like I said too psychoanalytical for me and I would guess my six-year old nephew, who would be bored out of his mind by it. Visually it was amazing. The kid who played Max was great. I just can’t give it a whole-hearted endorsement because it bored me too much in the beginning.

Arty Chick: I didn’t see a lot of kids looking bored and getting tired of it though when we were there. I think you underestimate the power of kids liking how other kids see things.

Mainstream Chick: Could very well be.

Adventurous Chick: The kid behind me was so bored he kicked the seat the whole second half of the movie. (Maybe that’s what kept me awake for that part.)

Arty Chick: A bit of projection on you chicks’ part. One kid. Out of a theater full.

Mainstream Chick: I feel like I need to dig out the book and read it and then think about the movie in that context.

Adventurous Chick: The theater was NOT full.

Arty Chick: Details, details.

Mainstream Chick: Good thing we chicks don’t see too many movies together anymore. Could be dangerous.

Adventurous Chick: I think it’s good to have the different perspectives.

Mainstream Chick: I hope Chickflix fans will weigh in!!!!!!!!!!

Arty Chick: In the book, Max is bad, gets sent to his room, a boat comes by, he gets in and goes to the land of the Wild Things. He has a fun time, they make him king, then he misses home and leaves. Not really enough for a whole movie.

Adventurous Chick: And comes home to a hot dinner… which leads me to the fact that in the movie, why wasn’t his Mom out looking for him? She was just sitting there waiting. Where were the cops looking for him?

Mainstream Chick: Exactly! I wondered that myself.

Adventurous Chick: Where were the media helicopters?

Mainstream Chick: And her date just disappeared. What up with that!?

Arty Chick: She’d read the book and knew he was coming back.

Mainstream Chick: Balloon boy got way more attention and he didn’t even leave the house.

Arty Chick: Okay. Please someone else weigh in!!

Adventurous Chick: So it’s one ringing endorsement from Arty Chick, a so-so from Adventurous Chick and a wait for the DVD from Mainstream Chick.

Arty Chick: If you liked Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, you might be more likely to appreciate this. I’m just sayin’.

Mainstream Chick: So noted.