Review of Mary and Max (2009) by Tisch T — 01 Jan 2014

Academy Award-winning Writer, Director Adam Elliot does it again with his brilliant clay animation... Remember Harvie Krumpet (genius) living the not so perfect life with Tourette's syndrome and then Alzheimer's disease, a sheer classic!

Adam Elliot writes with such humble wit and a deep understanding of the human psyche, his characters are wonderfully damaged by life circumstances. Challenged by their dysfunctional limitations they overcome the dark shadows that cloud their worlds! In Mary & Max, a delightful tale of the innocent pen pal correspondence between an unusual eight year old Australian girl (Mary Daisy Dinkle, played by Toni Collette) and an obese, middle-aged Jewish New Yorker suffering from Asperger's Syndrome (Max Jerry Horowitz, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman). This twenty year friendship demonstrates, despite the odds & obvious uncommon threads, that the undeniable connection the universe beholds us, is as real and necessary as chocolate! The letter exchanges are magnificently clever filled with thought provoking anxiety, humor and delightful expression when the characters are forced to deal with their demons. A must see, for the clay animation alone, but no doubt this story will draw you in and enlighten your heart!