Mary And Max - One Of My Favorite Movies Review

I know this is a bit unconventional posting a movie review in a gaming blog but I just had to post this because this film is so amazing to me that I just have to share it with everyone I know, even the people on this website.

Every once and awhile, there is a film that comes along that just causes my jaw to drop with unspeakable feelings of excitement, joy, and wonder at the artistry and excellence of the film. “Mary and Max”, a stop motion animated film Directed by Adam Elliot and starring voice talent from such stars as the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette, is one such movie. It’s a film that takes daring chances with not only its story but also its themes. It is probably one of the only stop motion animated films or for that matter even films in general that deals with such issues as depression, Acrophobia, orphanage, suicide, Autism, obesity, and loneliness all in one perfect and superb package and yet at the end leaves the audience with simultaneous feelings of wrenching sadness and joy. It is a film that will probably go down in history as a stop motion animation cult classic and a masterpiece of storytelling and imagery.

The films revolves around two characters, one a young girl named Mary who lives in Australia and the other an obese, and mentally ill middle aged man named max who lives in New York City. One day when Mary randomly picks Max’s name out of an American phone book she finds, she decides to send him a letter with a request of becoming pen pals. Soon, the two become much more than pen pals, they become best friends and it is watching the evolution of their friendship, and the turmoil that each character goes through throughout their lives that makes “Mary and Max” such a delight to watch. It is by far the most mature stop motion animated film that I have ever seen and by far one of the most engaging. The writing of “Mary and Max” caused me to swell up with tears and yes I am not ashamed to admit this. It’s absolutely wonderful from beginning to end.

The only thing I didn’t like about the film is that I didn’t particularly think the ending of the film was the best way the story could have gone. It’s not bad by any stretch of the word, but I thought it could have been better. Anyway, “Mary and Max” has become one of my all-time favorite films and a much watch. “Mary and Max” gets a 5/5 from me.