Mary & Max
NOTE: Although the DVD cover states that the film has received a Canadian Home Video rating of 'G', we have reviewed the film and feel that this rating was made in error. Due to the mature themes and dark humour, we feel that this title is not suitable for all ages. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
Spanning 20 years and two continents, Mary & Max tells the story of a pen-pal relationship between two very different people: Mary Dinkle (Toni Collette), a chubby, lonely 8-year-old living in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia; and Max Horovitz (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a severely obese, 44-year-old Jewish man with Asperger’s Syndrome living in the chaos of New York City.
As Mary & Max chronicles Mary’s trip from adolescence to adulthood, and Max’s passage from middle to old age, it explores a bond that survives much more than the average friendship’s ups and downs. Like Elliot and Coombs’ Oscar-winning animated short Harvie Krumpet, Mary & Max is both hilarious and poignant as it takes us on a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, kleptomania, sexual differences, trust, copulating dogs, religious differences, agoraphobia and many more of life’s surprises.
Critiques des membres
What a surprise! - sweeneysblade
One of the most amazing movies I can recall. This might be a true story (usually I hate them) but it's full of the dark parts of life and some of the most quirky happy ones too. Absolutely incredible visuals, some amazing laughs and characters that are as real as can be. These are the outsiders, the loners... but animated. The two worlds created for Australia and New York are so different but contrast beautifully. I loved the choices of music and even sang along with Que Sera Sera in the beautifully dark sequence that featured it. From the first moments, I was intrigued by this sense of humour and the style of the movie... and it never let go. Great narration and some lovely voice-work.I loved this movie - AngryHedwig
These characters are more real than real people. Such nuanced performances -- if these characters had been "real", they would have been surely nominated for Oscars.
When we started watching this movie, we were surprised and somewhat dismayed that it was animated, but that fell away in about 10 seconds as we were sucked into this worldAn "odd couple" - Myself
This poignant animation tells a story about an "odd" relationship between "odd" individuals, living 1/2 a planet and more than 1/2 a life-time away from each other. It does not "turn away" from the embarrassing, sad and sometimes disturbing aspects of being "human". It shows "humans" with their oddities (whether constitutionally-based or the product of a dysfunctional family), and does so in an unapologetic way that rarely is able to be done in movies made with "real" humans.
It touches on topics and issues that confront us in life, but many of us are too uncomfortable to discuss.
It reminds us perhaps of how we ourselves have sometimes been "unacceptable" to others at some times in our lives, or of the importance of being sensitive to those who it might be easy to dismiss.
After all, we all have feelings or matter to someone; and, we all survive in the best way we can.
Critiques des membres
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What a surprise! - sweeneysblade
One of the most amazing movies I can recall. This might be a true story (usually I hate them) but it's full of the dark parts of life and some of the most quirky happy ones too. Absolutely incredible visuals, some amazing laughs and characters that are ...I loved this movie - AngryHedwig
These characters are more real than real people. Such nuanced performances -- if these characters had been "real", they would have been surely nominated for Oscars.
When we started watching this movie, we were surprised and somewhat dismayed that it was ...An "odd couple" - Myself
This poignant animation tells a story about an "odd" relationship between "odd" individuals, living 1/2 a planet and more than 1/2 a life-time away from each other. It does not "turn away" from the embarrassing, sad and sometimes disturbing aspects of being ...