Mary and Max – animated stop motion film review
Mary and Max is a 2009 stop motion film. Or as my boyfriend put it – “the same way they do Wallace and Gromit”. It’s rated 12 in the UK which seems fairly normal for a ‘serious issues’ kids film but upon watching it I decided it wasn’t a kids film at all. Mary and Max is an animated film for grown ups (but not in the same way as Family Guy).
The premise is fairly self-explanatory – Mary (Toni Collette) is a young girl from Australia who is bullied at school and called an ‘accident’ by her alcoholic mother. She begins corresponding with Max (Philip Seymour Hoffman) a morbidly obese guy from New York who has Asperger syndrome and lives a lonely life. Straight away that sounds cool, right? A thoughtful, sad and lovely tale.
Well, good things first. The film was instantly captivating. As well as being pleasing to the eye and finding myself immediately interested in both main characters, the story is told in a simplistic style similar to that of a children’s book – which I enjoyed. There is a narrator (Barry Humphries) which is something I enjoy in any film and a silly, irreverent humour that is usually aimed at kids (and me of course). For instance when Humphries is describing Mary’s birthmark, he calls it “the colour of poo”. And poo is just a silly word isn’t it.
The friendship and correspondence between Mary and Max is lovely to watch. I’m a softie anyway and seeing two people with tough lives finding solace in each another is very endearing indeed. One letter from Mary had me in tears after she wrote to Max “have you ever been teased? Can you help me?” – heart breaking right?
But Mary and Max is also very funny – and not just because they use the word poo. As well as being reminiscent at times of Roald Dahl’s children’s books (Mary’s father works in a factory putting the strings on teabags) it’s also darkly funny. I spied a tube of “vaginal cream” in Mary’s mother’s medicine cupboard as well as the word “fuck” graffiti-ed on Max’s tube train. So the adult jokes and references are in plentiful supply and twinned with some of the dark themes and violence, as I said before – this is definitely an animated film for the grown ups.
But I’m genuinely sorry to say I didn’t end up loving Mary and Max as much as I thought I would. It started off really good and I genuinely was enthralled but after the first 50 minutes the film became more and more contrived and I couldn’t help but think the story was just trying too hard to be poignant and hard hitting. The entire soundtrack could have been The Smiths singing ‘Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want’.
I don’t want to give any spoilers or put people off because this is still a good film that’s funny, sad, charming and does tackle issues in a unique way – I would recommend it to all of you. But without saying too much, it just gets…….kind of ridiculous – for me anyway. And there were scenes I should have been crying at or at least felt emotionally connected to – but I just couldn’t believe in what I was seeing and instead felt marginally embarrassed. Parts of the plot felt too affected and I don’t think the film benefited – at all – from being so dark.
It was nice that dear Philip Seymour Hoffman starred in the film, voicing Max. It was hard to imagining it was him sometimes, as the gruff old school ‘New Ywwarker’ Max. The accent he did was absolutely spot on (and as a young lady from England I’m entirely qualified to judge that I know – but it was still awesome, okay? Yeah I chucked in Yank word on purpose…).
All in all I was disappointed by some parts of Mary and Max and I didn’t like the ending but that’s personal and doesn’t take away that’s it’s still an original movie with a sweet sentiment. It’s not even that long (about 85 minutes), it wasn’t expensive to buy (something we used to do before downloads) and if you’re a fan of animation and stop motion or you just want something a bit different to Pixar or Studio Ghibli, I would recommend it.
emmakwall (explains it all) 
Hmm. Given I’m not a huge fan of stop motion films (I have no idea why), I think I might stick with Wallace and Gromit.
#kindredspirits
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m the same Kim! #kindredspirits I’d rather watch real actors any day 🙂
#arrietty 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m definitely getting my hands on Arrietty!
#hugs
LikeLike
#poo
#somanybutts
Miss you!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LikeLiked by 2 people
#poo #seanpertwee
Pen, I started watching the TV show Gotham and Sean Pertwee is in it!!!!!
Miss you too my dear Pen 😦
SUCKS! 😦
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just loved this one. Loved it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good!!!! I love your profile pic!!!
🙂
LikeLike
I can understand your disappointment, but I still loved this little gem of a film. One of the few stop-motion films I like, in fact. The choice of the cast really elevated it, and I could easily watch it again.
Best wishes, Pete. x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah it was very enjoyable, just thought it was OTT in places. It was kind of embarrassing! And the ending was a disappointment. Felt the director tried too hard really, but generally I very much enjoyed it:) I’m not a huge fan of stop motion either, or any animation to be honest. I’d rather watch ‘proper’ actors! 🙂 x
LikeLike
I’ll have to check this movie out. I really like stop motion movies, my favorite is Corpse Bride. I may be the only person in the world who prefers Corpse Bride to Nightmare Before Christmas.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve never seen Corpse Bride and I don’t think I’ve seen Nightmare Before Christmas either!!! Is that sacrilege?
I think you’d like this movie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It might be sacrilege, but I think it’s acceptable sacrilege. 😉
Yeah, I should probably watch it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should probably watch The Nightmare Before Christmas! 🙂
There’s a number of other films I’ve never seen that may shock you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like what, pray tell?
I’m beginning to narrow down the list of cinematic milestones I’ve missed…but I still haven’t seen Godfather, Titanic, The Shining, etc.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Okay I’ve seen all those three!
BUT….never seen a James Bond film from start to finish. And I’ve never seen the original Star Wars…..(I know!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa. If you were going to watch a Bond film at some point, I’d recommend Goldeneye or Casino Royale. And as for Star Wars…it’s great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
I know, I know! I think I’ve missed the boat though.
What’s the Bond with the theme “no-body does it better….” I think it starts with a parachute jump down a mountain or something. You know…something standard Bond-esque!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s from The Spy Who Loved Me, another one of my favorites. 🙂
I’ve seen all the Bond films, in order, but that’s not something I would recommend. The quality varies constantly, and the series has eras of mediocrity. It’s also severely tonally inconsistent, switching from silliness (Moonraker, Die Another Day) and brutal violence (Licence to Kill, Casino Royale). It makes for an odd viewing experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re a real expert! I’m starting to feel mildly embarrassed haha!
I think I need to see The Spy Who Loved Me before any other, I had a feeling it had to be that one anyway and now I know it’s one of your favourites too 😀
What did you think of Skyfall? I hear so much adoration for that one. My dad really like the old school silly ones 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a bit of a Bond nerd. 🙂
I love Skyfall, I think it manages to find a happy medium between silliness and brutality that the Bond films of the past 15-ish years have struggled to do. Also, the action is great, and it looks beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know a lot of people loved that film which is why I asked 🙂 so who is your favourite Bond?!!!!
Was Skyfall the one were M died?
Don’t you think Daniel Craig looks a little like Sid James and who should be the next Bond?
LikeLike
Ooh, my favorite Bond is either Timothy Dalton, Daniel Craig, or Roger Moore. (One of those things is not like the others!)
Yes, Judi Dench’s M died in Skyfall, you are correct.
I didn’t know who Sid James was, but now that I looked him up, yes, Daniel Craig does look like him. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol I must sound like a nutty English girl “Sid James” !!! He was in ridiculous British comedy films (have you heard of the Carry On series?) so makes it even sillier Daniel Craig looks like him haha.
I often think of Timothy Dalton in Hot Fuzz!
“Fire….” you know which scene I mean 😀
Your choices are cool! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a Bond alumni in two of the Cornetto films, funnily enough. I was really surprised when Brosnan showed up in The World’s End.
LikeLike
Also, I’m not sure who should play Bond next. Idris Elba might be good, but maybe he wouldn’t be…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he would be the coolest Bond EVER I really think they should give it to him!!!! Tom Hardy would be too much of a cliché.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tom Hardy’s kind of too “generic clean-cut dude” for Bond, imo.
LikeLike
Great review! I’m happy you like it overall. The ridiculous part your talking about… Would it be the
SPOILER ALERT
Almost suicide?
That was almost a bit much for me too. The strange music and weird angles were a tad much (and by a tad… I mean kinda a lot). But I loved the characters so much at that point I overlooked it. And he end was disappointing. Womp Womp.
But overall, so good!
Great review!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hello dear Mel!!!! 🙂
SPOILERS……………
Yes that part! I found it really cringe. I should have been upset but I wasn’t, I just felt embarrassed. Which isn’t right! I felt the director/write tried a bit too hard, and what’s wrong with a happy bloody ending? Or at least Max could have met Mary before he died. It was all a bit too “poignant” but I hope I didn’t sound as though I hated it because I was genuinely transfixed for the first hour and it still made me shed tears (during their original letters) and I loved Mary and I loved Max. And I loved the humour and the narrator and loads of stuff really! So it was a success 🙂 and I am looking forward to watching Harvie Krumpet 😀
Thanks Mel 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree! I felt more obligated to like those parts because I liked the beginning more than genuinely feeling sad. Does that make sense? Kind of like I was being manipulated into feeling sad.
But I’m glad you liked it overall! So did I. I love their early letters so much. Great moments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes I did really like it! The letters were amazing and actually they made me feel sadder than the suicide scene. I think that was my main problem, it really didn’t make me feel sad in the slightest, it just made me feel embarrassed and that’s the best way I can put it! I just thought ‘what the hell are they doing?! Ridiculous’ pretty much..!
But I don’t want to dwell on all that, as it was an AWESOME movie and very different and original and cool! And I still loved it!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good! Glad to hear it! The early letters were the best part, for sure.
When you get a sec, check out my post from yesterday. It’s dedicated to you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Anytime! You’re amazing!
LikeLike
I love the word ‘poo.’ I feel like i’m getting away with some mischief every time I say it. And it’s a lot less harsh-sounding than ‘shit.’
I’d like to check out this film, I’ve been hearing mixed things about it but by all accounts the film sounds worth a peek. Voice talent alone is something special. Good review Em!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Tom! Haha, definitely a mischievous word, very child-like I think! I love it! Ha ha ha (so mature)
Let me know what you think of the movie when you watch it? I’d love to know! 🙂
#poo #shit
LikeLiked by 1 person
#poo
#winniethepooh
#howcouldtheyevengetawaywiththat
#farts
LikeLiked by 2 people
My friend was so sick of all the pretentious and smug status updates on facebook she went on a massive rant about how she was going to invent something called “bum book” and the only thing you were allowed to post about was your bowel movements and how many times you’d “poo’ed” and your profile picture had to be a bum etc etc.
It just makes me laugh still sometimes thinking of her rant!
#poo
#toilethumour
#loveit
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super !
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
This is on my Netflix queue and I have started the first 2 minutes about 8 times. You’ve convinced me to sit down and watch the whole thing! I’m sad to read that you were a little disappointed after the first 50 minutes – I’ll have to let you know next week if I agree!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay! Your comment made my day 🙂 it really did. Just one person saying they will watch it because of my review – YAY!
I hope I didn’t sound like I hated it after the first 50 minutes because I certainly didn’t but it got a little weird (for me anyway) and I guess it ruined what would have been an ‘amazing / unforgettable’ film and made it more average but still very special in places 🙂
Let me know what you think!!! And thanks again for your comment Jessica 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an amazing review, sounds like a very touching film in some respects.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Vinster that’s really kind of you 🙂 yes it was very touching indeed. Hope you’re well? Any more stories about Danny Dyer? Ha ha 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m doing well sister, currently jamming away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jamming away? On an instrument?
I’m glad you’re well brother 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No I meant I was listening to music intensely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah cool 🙂 what sorta music do you like Vinster?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love a good mixture really.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too 🙂 I love rap music, soul music, 80s electronica and a bit of rock and roll. And doo wop. Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m the same, I just love music in general.
LikeLike