Mary and Max (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Spencer S

  
  An intricately poignant claymation film about the friendship between two very unlikely people, Mary and Max pushes the envelope of what claymation can do as an art form while also being quirky, cute, and interestingly dark. This medium has brought us everything from Wallace and Gromit… More
  An intricately poignant claymation film about the friendship between two very unlikely people, Mary and Max pushes the envelope of what claymation can do as an art form while also being quirky, cute, and interestingly dark. This medium has brought us everything from Wallace and Gromit to Gumby, but never has really left the realm of the childlike and vulnerable. This film also starts semi-naive with the fresh faced perspective of Mary, a chubby girl from Australia. Her thoughts are often depressive and yet original, and have the spirit of a child. Friendless and always ignored by her alcoholic mother and patiently apathetic father, she sends off a letter to a stranger in New York to ask her most intriguing questions. Soon a correspondence develops between herself and Max, an obese atheist Asperger's patient. Though both are separated by so much in their lives they still find common ground as both are friendless, lovers of junk food (including sweetened condensed milk) and have childlike sensibilities. Over time this changes, but destruction envelops both of their lives, only having each other to lean on metaphorically. Amazing things keep happening to both, sometimes awful and sometimes amazing and life changing. Though both go through a rollercoaster of emotional distress and loneliness there is hope and advice to be given. Every one of Mary's unfortunate problems is solved by the wizened naivety of Max and in turn Mary constantly helps out her clueless friend, who's disorder keeps him awkward and confused. The film covers the seventies and into the present, always hopeful, eccentric, and downright uplifting. Many of the characters go through their own transformations by association, and we get to see a bevy of different stages in the lives of two certainly different individuals. The care and concern they have for one another though they've never met is something that we don't get to see every day, and though many believe it's sappy and unrealistic, the depths of depression and aloneness are easy to relate to. It's edgy for what it is and tried to accomplish and the message of friendship was one never covered in such an interesting ways. Beautiful, beautiful film.

• Randy T

  
  Refreshingly dark and edgy.

• Jens S

  
  A funny and sad tale of a pen pal friendship that mixes sweet with bitter and heart-warming with callous humor and still works. It's certainly not for kids, but the quirky animation and the details are fun to watch. Problem is the bleakness of the theme and how many really bad… More
  A funny and sad tale of a pen pal friendship that mixes sweet with bitter and heart-warming with callous humor and still works. It's certainly not for kids, but the quirky animation and the details are fun to watch. Problem is the bleakness of the theme and how many really bad things keep happening, so it's really not a happy movie, even if you sometimes hope for it to be. So, being the optimist that I am, it left me oddly unsatisfied, even though I enjoyed many parts of the film for its unusual humor.

• Bently L

  
  Mary Daisy Dinkle is a chubby, eight-year old girl from Australia who is neglected by her parents and has no friends. She then finds a pen pal named Max Jerry Horovitz who is an atheist, obese, mentally ill, loner living in New York City. For a twenty-year span, the two write letters… More
  Mary Daisy Dinkle is a chubby, eight-year old girl from Australia who is neglected by her parents and has no friends. She then finds a pen pal named Max Jerry Horovitz who is an atheist, obese, mentally ill, loner living in New York City. For a twenty-year span, the two write letters and send each other things as they answer each others questions involving the issues in life. Of all the themes director Adam Elliot could have gone with for "Mary and Max", he chose life and all the issues that come with it. "Mary and Max" is a extremely unique animated film that treats itself as it was live action. The characters are awesomely designed with realistic issues. When they're stressed, you feel stressed. When they're sad, you feel depressed. Many emotions and sparks fly in the film. I did not cry but I felt that someone has grabbing my heart with a tight grip. Its a claymation film with very strong, mature PG-13 themes. The animation was gnarly. Almost every prop in this was designed with clay and I am very proud at the animators. I've mentioned how strong the themes are and the animation and design of the characters don't seem to go along with that. However, the films makes us deal with that. I would've given this film 100% if it was live action but the animation aspect is still quite beautiful. I tend to be put off by narration in films but that is what "Mary and Max" was built upon and Adam Elliot made it tolerable and interesting. The voice acting was phenomenal. Whoever voiced Young Mary in the beginning did a fantastic job. Toni Collette was awesome as older Mary. This is the second film I've seen with her, the first being "The Sixth Sense", and my first ever with Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He was excellent as Max added much, much emotion into the terribly troubled character. The narrator, who sounded like Geoffery Rush, was very good. Maybe the best narrator (who is not a chatacter) that I've seen in any film. The film has well crafted opening credits that give us an a very good look at part of the film's setting. Once the narration kicks in, it adds very funny lines and unexpected, and some vulgar, humor. Once the character's issues kick in, the movie takes a very different direction to a emotional romp. Elliot knows how to make a scene more intense as it progresses. For example, the acclaimed "Que Sera?" sequence. My. Jaw. Dropped. It is no way intended for children and that probably is the best thing about it. "Mary and Max" is a top-notch film that gives us an excellent look at life and its issues. If you are currently down in the dumps, get your butt up and rent this movie. It'll probably make you more depressed but make you appreciate your life more and make you so grateful that you neither Mary nor Max. I wonder if this is really based on a true story as it said at the start of the film. This is a film that is 100% guaranteed to stay in your memory. You need to see this. I urge you to. Big Oscar snub, I'm talking about right here. Well, I gotta go. I need to go watch the latest episode of "The Noblets". Thanks for reading and leave clean comments below. "The stars made more sense."

• Michael S

  
  "Mary and Max" is one of the most powerful and heartbreaking animated films I've ever seen. Completely Brilliant.

• Anthony L

  
  It is rare that a film is both heart warming and heart breaking at the same time, never as true here with Mary & Max. Adam Elliot has excelled himself after the success of Harvey Krumpet - a hard act to follow - and has cemented himself as one of my favourite writer/directors of… More
  It is rare that a film is both heart warming and heart breaking at the same time, never as true here with Mary & Max. Adam Elliot has excelled himself after the success of Harvey Krumpet - a hard act to follow - and has cemented himself as one of my favourite writer/directors of all time (with only two films so far). This is a tale to be cherished, although your enjoyment is based on your outlook on life, are you a half full or half empty person, can you see the silver lining to every cloud, can you see truth beyond the fog of uncertainty? If not, Mary & Max can show you the way, just give them that chance. A new favourite of mine and Adam Elliot is definitely a name to look out for.

• Luke B

  
  Difficult and mature film making, disguised as an animated film. The childish presentation of the film is important for its subject matter, but it always has a dark and artistic edge. Mary and Max is one of those rarest of films. One that I knew nothing about before seeing it. No… More
  Difficult and mature film making, disguised as an animated film. The childish presentation of the film is important for its subject matter, but it always has a dark and artistic edge. Mary and Max is one of those rarest of films. One that I knew nothing about before seeing it. No trailer, no poster, no plot synopsis etc. All I knew is that it was animated and Hoffman did a voice. The film is a complex look at relationships, family, mental health, sexuality, and acceptance. All these themes pop-up, but are viewed through the eyes of a child, a man with Asperger's, and a woman suffering from depression. The film spans 20 years, and we are treated to the real highs and lows. Whether is be marriage, urinating on a sandwich, or the death of a mime. The film draws you in with its presentation, but keeps you hooked with its thoughts and emotions. Hoffman gives a tremendous performance. The kind that makes you think voice over work should be nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars. Mary and Max treats you to some incredibly funny comedy, and devastatingly saddening tragedy. This is a film that I will certainly watch again and again, and is up there with the best animated films of all time.

• Josh L

  
  A unique and strangely funny film with some of the weirdest & quirkiest characters I've seen in animation, but it adds plenty of charm to a heartbreaking story. This one flew under the radar for quite awhile and deserves an audience bigger than it will likely get. The voices… More
  A unique and strangely funny film with some of the weirdest & quirkiest characters I've seen in animation, but it adds plenty of charm to a heartbreaking story. This one flew under the radar for quite awhile and deserves an audience bigger than it will likely get. The voices are well matched to the characters and almost unrecognizeable despite big names. The animation is definitely one of the reasons why this probably didn't get a major release in my opinion since animation largely appeals to younger audiences and this is most defintiely a more mature style and themed animated movie. It deserves an audience though, and I'm trying to do my part.

• Emily A

  
  This is a beautiful, funny movie that is also cripplingly sad. If this had been a live-action movie, it would be one of the most depressing pieces of cinema this side of Angela's Ashes. The claymation however adds an element of whimsy and quirkiness, that gives the story a… More
  This is a beautiful, funny movie that is also cripplingly sad. If this had been a live-action movie, it would be one of the most depressing pieces of cinema this side of Angela's Ashes. The claymation however adds an element of whimsy and quirkiness, that gives the story a much-needed lift. It's about an eight-year old alienated and lonely Australian girl who, on impulse, writes a letter to a man in New York that happens to be the perfect person for her to talk to. The letter's recipient is a mildly autistic man who's as alone in the world as she is, and, despite the fact that Mary's first three letters trigger in Max debilitating panic attacks, they forge the most lasting and definitive friendship of either of thier lives. It's a very sweet movie, and the sadness comes through when you get a little reminder of how bad the title characters have it. Max leads a rather pathetic existence and there is tons in the world that he doesn't understand, which then frighten and upset him. Mary's childhood was not particularly happy, since she's neglected at home by her wobbling alcoholic mother and tormented at school because of a brown birthmark on her forehead. They kind of help each other make sense of thier lives and give each other comfort, and thier connection lasts for decades.

• Curtis L

  
  Rather excellent. The animation was top notch. I must admit this made me unusually depressed for about an hour after watching it, although it had its sweet moments. I especially loved the valium scene (although at about that point I wanted to do what she was doing).

• Greg S

  
  A lonely 8-year old girl in Australia picks a random address out of the phone book and begins a lifelong pen-pal relationship with Max, a middle-aged New Yorker with Asperger's syndrome. Funny and touching dual character study, done in a cute/grotesque claymation style.

• Arash X

  
  It's really refreshing to see animations like this & Fantastic Mr. Fox, Hilarious & fun as hell to watch but feels a bit rushed at times

• Carlos M

  
  Mary and Max is a wonderful claymation crafted with a formidable production design, a fantastic direction and a surprisingly moving story about friendship and loneliness. I really cannot see how anyone wouldn't be touched by this beautiful, heartbreaking film.

• Jake .

  
  I really find it disgusting that a movie this great has yet to kind any kind of a release in the U. S. It may have taken the mandatory two-weekend run in LA, but I honestly do not think it ever branched further than that. It really makes no sense at all. Not only is the film perfect… More
  I really find it disgusting that a movie this great has yet to kind any kind of a release in the U. S. It may have taken the mandatory two-weekend run in LA, but I honestly do not think it ever branched further than that. It really makes no sense at all. Not only is the film perfect in just about everyway possible, but Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Eric Bana are not exactly a fly by night cast. If Mary and Max ever gets a dvd release, I'll probably buy it just on the principle of the matter! Complaints aside, I absolutely loved Mary and Max. The story is made up of incredibly depressing and pessimistic elements, but the overall effect is anything but. It's really pretty optimistic and uplifting. I loved -LOVED - the visual style. This is a bit of spoiler, so be warned, but I liked how the Aspergers was not brought up by name until pretty far into the plot. I was pretty sure that Max had the syndrome, but I liked that the script worked in such a way as to let you form your own opinion without the fact that Max 'isn't quite right' handing over it. All around just a beautiful, human masterpiece. Watch it, in whatever form you can, whenever you can. Movies like this do not come along very often and they should not be overlooked when they do.

• Dean M

  
  The most interesting , complex characters you will probably meet all year are puppets. Made of clay, plastic and polymer. Mary, with her off-centre mouth and Max, with his oddly-shaped head, are comical looking. But they tell a serious, made-for-adults tale, full of compassion,… More
  The most interesting , complex characters you will probably meet all year are puppets. Made of clay, plastic and polymer. Mary, with her off-centre mouth and Max, with his oddly-shaped head, are comical looking. But they tell a serious, made-for-adults tale, full of compassion, humanity and wit. This is a classic case of an unlikely friendship between two achingly lonely outsiders. Director-writer Adam Elliot finally has a feature-length movie to stretch his wonderfully unrestrained imagination into. He's not only a gifted animator, but a master storyteller, and this is close to a work of genius.

• Dead A

  
  This was sweet. The ending was sad though.

• Jennifer X

  
  This film is an absolute masterpiece. It's colorful, whimsical, red, depressing, disgusting, gorgeous, hilarious, and illuminating all at once. It doesn't limit itself to merely being an "adult animation" film, which I love. You can tell Elliot was inspired by a… More
  This film is an absolute masterpiece. It's colorful, whimsical, red, depressing, disgusting, gorgeous, hilarious, and illuminating all at once. It doesn't limit itself to merely being an "adult animation" film, which I love. You can tell Elliot was inspired by a bunch of filmmakers (particularly Wes Anderson) but at the same time his style is uniquely his own. There's a release at the end that comes out in a little pop, cathartic and heartwarming. And I don't usually like to praise voice actors, but Philip Seymour Hoffman's New York Jewishness is ON THE MONEY.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"You are my best friend. You are my only friend"</i> A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York.… More
  <i>"You are my best friend. You are my only friend"</i> A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> A couple of claymation misfits who are worlds apart, form an unlikely dialog, in a pre-Internet age where it takes weeks to get a reply. There is a growing trend amongst publishers and in Hollywood, where the writer is strongly urged to rather show the story rather than tell it. This is fine for certain works, especially action films, but I personally believe that the aforementioned edict is a steaming pile of moronic dribble. People are more than intelligent enough to garner rich satisfaction from being provided a story in any form as long as the story itself holds interest. Its worked fine for all the classics in literature, most of which are still being read in droves, but many believe that audiences are stupid and need to shown everything and must capture their attention in the first five seconds. Indeed, most manuscripts are rejected based upon their first page, a ridiculous scenario. In this case, there is much in the way of telling via the voice-over of the wondrous Barry Humphries and yet the visuals provide us with an extra layer on information, working with the voice-over rather than being hindered by it. Occasionally it goes on too long, but Adam Elliot is incredibly brave in wanting to tell this story his way. Aside from stylistic similarities to his earlier shorts, he has remained true to himself. He thanks a lot of people in regards to his script; its clear he has made the effort to get it right, proving the basic notion in screen writing, is to get right on the page first folks. The script is a gem, finding the humor in a rather grim tale, without ever being patronizing to the characters or their plight. If anything, he manages to reinforce their humanity. Mary and Max is a brilliant, entertaining work of visual art combined with depth and grace.

• Matthew R

  
  And I thought Pixar's Up and Toy Story 3 were emotionally stimulating films. "Mary and Max" begins in Australia, 1976, a young girl named Mary is looking for a friend. She lives with both her parents but her mother is a chain smoking drunk and a thief and her father,… More
  And I thought Pixar's Up and Toy Story 3 were emotionally stimulating films. "Mary and Max" begins in Australia, 1976, a young girl named Mary is looking for a friend. She lives with both her parents but her mother is a chain smoking drunk and a thief and her father, who works in a factory putting strings on teabags, would rather spend time with his collection of dead birds. Mary remains curious about life and finds the address of an American living in New York. She writes him a letter to become his pen pal. The recipient is Max, a severely overweight Jewish neurotic and full-time no-hoper. Gradually, as they send each other letters, Mary and Max's relationship develops and we begin to learn more about their past and their heartache of being alone. Director Adam Elliot (known for his short animated film, Harvey Krumpet) has constructed his first full feature clay-mation picture, displaying as much skill as many of the major mainstream studios. The film is immaculately designed, with many tiny details and features placed into the sets, all of which would have taken many countless hours to mold. The lighting and color scheme too are significant to the unique look of the film, ranging from highly saturated to almost entirely black and white, to reflect the self-esteem and sometimes gloomy tone of the narrative. It is a film made of great patience and craftsmanship. Yet the strongest benefit of the film is the humor of the screenplay. Whereas many mainstream animated films such as Shrek adopt a great deal of hilarity from their pop culture references, Elliot has an eye for the simpler things in life. From the way Mary and Max share their eating habits of chocolate hot dogs, to how Max describes his past jobs, including a street cleaner and a member of the Communist Party, the humor of the film remains truly original, bizarre and often very witty. Elliot excels in his ability to write about the most normal things and then turn them on their heads, or degrade his miserable characters in the most hilarious way. Yet there are moments of poignancy too, such as where Mary describes her difficulty at school as she is teased, that provide the film's screenplay with a subtext - no matter how simple - about isolation and the need for friends. The use of Barry Humphries' voice over to convey much of the story is firstly not needed and a bit interfering. In the opening scenes it feels overly used and distracting from the story and the detail of the scenes. Gradually though, as the film moves from its opening exposition, the voice over is used slightly less and its scarcity achieves the storybook quality and poetry that it deserves. Barry Humphries reads his lines beautifully. The rest of the voice actors too are splendid. Philip Seymour Hoffman is again in fine form, adding a slight accent to his voice and the decision to model his voice with a character of a similar physique fits nicely. He is quickly become one of the most diverse actors in the world. Bethany Whitmore as the young Mary is equally impressive too and her voice has a real innocence about it. Toni Collette and Eric Bana also have much smaller roles too. It is a well thought out voice cast and while some of the minor characters verge on grotesque, there is still a real sweetness about this film that carries it. Though I don't think young children, who have been conditioned by the more mainstream animated titles, will appreciate the film. It is extremely funny for the most part (aimed at adults especially), but there is also a real sense of gloom around these characters that might not be as appealing to children. And towards the end, the films message really begins to sink in, ending in a tearful manner. In the end, Mary and Max is a brilliant, entertaining work of visual art combined with depth and grace, the first and best animated film I've seen this year. Story: A Acting: A- Direction: A- Visuals: A Overall: A- ***1/2 out of 4 stars

• Mark A

  
  A beautifully crafted Claymation film that lovingly depicts a couple of unlikely pen-pals who meet strictly by chance. Mary (voiced by Bethany Whitmore and Toni Collette) as a young girl in Australia who has no friends, finds Max's name and address in a phone book and writes to… More
  A beautifully crafted Claymation film that lovingly depicts a couple of unlikely pen-pals who meet strictly by chance. Mary (voiced by Bethany Whitmore and Toni Collette) as a young girl in Australia who has no friends, finds Max's name and address in a phone book and writes to him, initiating a long-term friendship that serves to satisfy both of them in very different ways. Max is a middle-aged man with Aspergers Syndrome who also suffers from the lack of friends. The film is in black and white, with occasional shots of color to highlight a tongue, or a dress, or some other item. The sets are gorgeous, and the tale is told mainly through the letters that they exchange through the years. We see Mary grow up, get her degree, get married, and become successful only to see it all come crashing down when she receives rejection from her one and only true friend. There is pathos, and beauty, and great emotion here and the animators have created a wonderful experience that drew this viewer into the lives of these two damaged souls. This one touched me deeply.

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