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That is, not until people started asking me, "Should I take my kid to it?" And my first thought was, "Really?"
I know why people (especially my age) would want to take their kids to see it. It's a landmark book for them. But there's a big difference between Maurice Sendak's award-winning, 10-sentence book and this movie.
I loved the movie, personally. Director Spike Jonze really knows how to make the dream-like and surreal films I love (obviously not everyone's cup of tea). I thought it was tender, touching, and beautiful--both visually and emotionally. And I especially loved the characters, like Catherine Keener as the hard-working and loving mother.
But now I'm seeing stories all over that parents who take their kids to this movie are leaving either upset or bored and disappointed overall. One CNN article tells this story:
"It was joyless. There were maybe 15 minutes of the hour and a half that my kids were into it," said James Griffioen of Detroit, Michigan.
His 4-year-old daughter asked, "Why is this movie so sad?" in the middle of their family's matinee viewing, while his son, a 20-month-old who normally can't get enough of the 1963 children's classic, was simply bored, he told CNN.
If anyone had done any advance reading on this movie, I think they'd probably agree that this is not a true children's movie, and I'm not even sure it was intended to be. It is rated PG in that it really doesn't have anything in it that's too violent, sexual, or profane for kids. But I always felt, from watching the trailers, it may just be too out there for a child to grasp or just not the good times that most kiddie fare delivers.
So having seen the movie now, I can without hesitation say you shouldn't take a young child to this movie. It's a relatively dark and sad movie, dealing with a child's struggle with divorce and loneliness. The emotions are tough to deal with at times, and it is incredibly sad at times. The monsters (or Wild Things) are not adorable and can be actually kind of frightening, especially when they're threatening to "eat" lead character Max.
Now, to the question of how old a child should see this movie, I'd recommend 10 to 12 years old at the youngest. This movie is relatively slowly paced and meditative, so if they're not frightened then they're likely to be boerd. Unlike some other kid's flicks that are sad but still inspirational ("Up" comes to mind), it doesn't TRY whatsoever to be enjoyable or uplifting in the end.
To tell you the truth; it was a tough movie even for me, an adult. In some ways, I felt like it was a movie that showed me the complexity of what kids have to deal with to cope with the hardness of life. And it made me want to be a better parent.
Bottom line: Avoid taking young children to "Wild Things" and go see it yourself if you really like that style of film. But as always, everyone knows their children best, so make your own call. Some kids may really get into the vibe of the film, and you may walk away feeling warm and fuzzy as I did. [CNN] [USA Today]
