Review of Mary and Max (2009) by Shiera C — 22 Sep 2011

If you like Pixar, you'll love this. No, no, no. Don't get me wrong. This movie is by no means a copy or an understudy of a Pixar film. You could even go as far as to say, "It's better, just more under-rated.".

Animation. It's emotionally fun when it's done properly. The thing about animated movies is they somehow feel free in a virtual world, and yet still manage to capture the realistic nature of the world. Good animation is old-fashioned laugh-out-loud fun. Great animation is mature, emotional bonding, fresh, creative, lighthearted and saddening in vulnerable sort of way. Most definitely, Mary and Max fits the bill for great animation.

You'd be captivated by how this movie can surprise you in unfamiliar ways. To be exact, ways other than the rooting and emotional feelings for Woody and co. Heck, why the comparison with a Pixar film? Mary and Max is no Toy Story. It can't be compared with Pixar because quite frankly, it's on a whole different level, animation and affection-wise.

This movie is one of those which you would write a book based on, instead of the other way around. Most importantly, it had so many elements going on, right from Mary's underwhelming self-esteem, Max's psychological problems to the loud and noisy New Yorkian life. The movie also plays itself pretty well in terms of color; black and white for bleak and moody, red and brown for hope and happiness.

But everything wouldn't succeeded without a fantastic plot in as its backdrop. The relationship between Mary and Max is too hard not to cry over, way too harsh to dismiss as mere pen-friendship. It has ups, downs and a spectacular ending, which should provide the audience with melancholic goosebumps. The reason for all these is probably down to the movie's excellent narration. A great example of how narration can carry the movie.

So, cry, smile, laugh with Mary and Max. Be it unorthodox, weird, awkward or LOL moments, you know you'll learn a lot from watching this.

Personally*... We need more claymation movies. It can be a new genre.