Like little Max‘s internal struggles, my feelings (about this film) aren’t so easily understood, even to me. I’ll do my best to make sense of them. Let’s see, first there’s a very strong nostalgic emotion. The tender recreations of childhood imagination on film cajole sweet memories, even replay some of that wondrous spirit of “child at play.” The production is truly inspired in this department.

But, my boyhood imagination and that of Max, traipse off in different directions. I found myself a bit reluctant to follow along, frustrated that the story was fixed by Max and that the games I might want to play would be left to his whimsy. It was almost as if I was just another of his playthings. As Carol might complain, “Everything I wanted to happened, didn’t happen!”

That said, Max’s daydreaming sure scurried up some fun characters with whom to romp. Older viewers will recall HR Puff 'n Stuff or The Banana Splits by Sid and Marty Krofft. Either way, the emotive, expressive puppet faces of these Wild Things are beautifully, lovingly brought to life on screen. Their voices make them all the more real, James Gandolfini’s especially.

The dream drew me in, but as the ending was rather predictable, I felt, at times, stranded in some muddy story on some remote isle. As some of the characters made perfect sense to Max’s stormy predicament, I felt myself confused when they all didn’t.

The climax is sweet and even tugs at the heartstrings, but I kind of wanted the ball to be knocked out of the park. Overall. It’s really an interesting work. I’m not sure it’s for your average kid. If your kids like it, please write in and let me know. I’d love to have that feedback. But, for sure, if you have a stormy kid like Max, then bring your little genius of imagination, slash family tempest to this picture. Maybe you’ll all get lucky, and Max’s epiphany of maturity will transfer.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --