There was nothing much on TV last night, so I took my Kindle to bed and browsed Netflix to find some light comedy. Having seen numerous clay animation comedies before, such as Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit, I figured that Mary & Max (2009, NR) would be a good bet. Brainchild of Australian writer and director, Adam Elliot, Mary & Max had won a barrel-full of international awards, and an all-star cast including the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette, Eric Bana, and Barry Humphries (of Dame Edna fame).
Little did I realize that this was no children's film. Mary & Max is a film for adults, taking on such sensitive topics as alcoholism, bullying, homosexuality, Asperger's Syndrome, suicide and where babies come from. Every raw moment is treated with sweet sensitivity. Not an easy thing to do. While this may sound like a most tragic storyline for a movie, and yes, there is much tragedy, but the humor and sweetness that arises from the tragic made me glow brighter than my Kindle's screen.
The engrossing story focuses on an unlikely friendship between Mary, a lonely Australian child of emotionally-absent parents (the mother being an alcoholic) who starts writing letters to Max, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, whose name and address she selected randomly in a New York phone directory at her local post office. The ensuing correspondence continues for years, as they, and we, learn more and more about what makes each tick. They become each others' best, and only, friend. The result is a film that speaks of the human condition so astutely that it may draw a tear, that delights you to the point of laughing out loud, and leaves you feeling like you want to tell everyone about it (and so I am) and watch it over and over again (and so I will).
The clay figures and set, as well as the animation, are created with incredible attention to detail. You'll love the wonderfully kooky characters, right down to Henry the Goldfish. Their quirks and expressions make them seem real, as well as surreal. And the music soundtrack couldn't be more fitting. This film is total entertainment.
I had never heard about this movie before, but am so, so glad I found it. I highly recommend you view Mary & Max on Netflix or Google Play, or purchase it from Amazon.com. It gets both of my thumbs up (both of my big toes, too)! Let me know what you think in the Comments!
Little did I realize that this was no children's film. Mary & Max is a film for adults, taking on such sensitive topics as alcoholism, bullying, homosexuality, Asperger's Syndrome, suicide and where babies come from. Every raw moment is treated with sweet sensitivity. Not an easy thing to do. While this may sound like a most tragic storyline for a movie, and yes, there is much tragedy, but the humor and sweetness that arises from the tragic made me glow brighter than my Kindle's screen.
The engrossing story focuses on an unlikely friendship between Mary, a lonely Australian child of emotionally-absent parents (the mother being an alcoholic) who starts writing letters to Max, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, whose name and address she selected randomly in a New York phone directory at her local post office. The ensuing correspondence continues for years, as they, and we, learn more and more about what makes each tick. They become each others' best, and only, friend. The result is a film that speaks of the human condition so astutely that it may draw a tear, that delights you to the point of laughing out loud, and leaves you feeling like you want to tell everyone about it (and so I am) and watch it over and over again (and so I will).
The clay figures and set, as well as the animation, are created with incredible attention to detail. You'll love the wonderfully kooky characters, right down to Henry the Goldfish. Their quirks and expressions make them seem real, as well as surreal. And the music soundtrack couldn't be more fitting. This film is total entertainment.
I had never heard about this movie before, but am so, so glad I found it. I highly recommend you view Mary & Max on Netflix or Google Play, or purchase it from Amazon.com. It gets both of my thumbs up (both of my big toes, too)! Let me know what you think in the Comments!
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