I’m sure you’ve already heard ---- don’t bring the kids to see the movie: Where the Wild Things Are. While most of the reviews I’ve read explain that the movie is a dark psychological exploration into loneliness, alienation and anger, the only resemblance to the classic tale is the name of the characters including Max and the wild things. While the same words are spoken, the context and theme have changed with the expanded storyline and creative fabrication of the writers. They used the original tale as a writing prompt and projected what their wild things would be like, how they would live and behave; they decided that the wild things must stay together and sleep in a pile at night but each one leads a very separate, desperate existence during the day. The writers created one hopeful wild thing, KW, who runs away from the despair and stays with her two wise owl friends but when she returns with them, Carol, the leading wild thing, is violently opposed to those who do not belong like wisdom and knowledge.

But while the children’s book is a classic reminder of childhood independence, healthy autonomy and attachment to home and family, the movie is a glimpse into the life of a lonely boy who lives with an older teenage sister and a struggling single mom. The only mention of a dad includes a globe engraved to Max stating that he owns this world and signed, “Love, Dad.”

Bored and lonely, Max attacks his sister’s teenager boyfriends with snowballs and is surprised that the teenagers retaliate and destroy his igloo. He is unrealistically devastated that they have invaded his private world.

Frustrated by his mom’s boyfriend invading his home and the unwanted frozen corn kernels that represent dinner, he becomes emotionally distraught and reacts by biting his mother, runs out of the house and into his imaginary world. Max discovers a land of wild things who adhere to a physical and emotional build and destroy code of conduct. Carol, the wild thing played by Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), displays the bipolar passive, aggressive personality of the mobster he played so well during his Soprano days. Carol makes Max king of all the wild things so that he could bring his magic powers and joy to their barren wilderness.

When it is suggested that Max does not have the power to bring happiness or any other magic to the land, he is in grave danger and realizes that it is time to leave this barrenness behind and yearns for home; he wants to return to the place where his mom may not always approve of his behavior but has always loved him unconditionally.

As the wild things say goodbye to Max, Carol, unable to speak, roars good-bye in agony and despair. After rounds of howls and roars, Max returns home to a tired but loving mom. The wild things probably continue their journey to nowhere searching for someone to “save” them instead of looking within themselves for answers, reinforcing their desolate existence.

In developing this script, the writers may have successfully exposed their own lingering and personal wild things but any resemblance of this movie to the book consists of the visual outer layer of costumes and characters.

I understand it took five years to finally bring this film to the screen. Was the problem securing the funding, was it an artistic battle or was there a disagreement over whether the movie should be classified as a fantasy horror film appropriate for adults? Since promotions and trailers strongly connect it to the book, I assume that those who wanted it advertised for children (including the book’s author/illustrator, Maurice Sendak), got their way. In fact, Sendak’s “they can go to hell” comment directed toward parents who suggest this film is too scary for children, may be exposing some of his own unresolved issues, as well.

If you want to see a psychological display of despair and depressive behavior amid the creative artistry of monster-like body suits and scenic beauty, this film is for you. Just leave the kids at home where they can enjoy the book with family and friends.

They will meet a young Max who is testing his independence, finds out that if he misbehaves there are consequences, creates an imaginary world during his timeout, plays hard and parties during a self-lead royal rumpus, grows tired and longs for the security of home and family. When he returns, his dinner is still hot.