Mary and Max : This film was way too cruel, morbid and depressing *spoilers*

This film was way too cruel, morbid and depressing *spoilers*

I watched this on Netflix last night with my wife, and although the earlier parts of the movie had some good bits of black comedy, overall I would say that Mary & Max is just plain bleak and depressing. It would have been bad enough had this been a live-action film, but the fact that the story is told through stop-motion animation just makes everything seem even more dark and cruel.

They take this cute, pudgy little girl and turn her into a suicidal, pill-popping, alcoholic train wreck. You keep hoping that things will get better for her and Max but instead things just get worse and worse. The scene where Mary pops a handful of Valium and tries to hang herself is just too much.

Some fans of the film on here have noted that the ending is "optimistic and life-affirming." Call it what you want, but I just did not see it that way. The film builds up their eventual face-to-face meeting, and of course by the time Mary finally makes it to NYC, Max is stone dead on the couch. Of course the narration and music tries to paint this as a "happy ending" because Max died with a smile and Mary finally got to be with him, but the film is toying with us at this point.

I can see how some folks might find this to be a good movie. The animation is unique and there are some funny moments, but the film is just way too mean to its characters for my taste.

4/10.

Re: This film was way too cruel, morbid and depressing *spoilers*

If you're looking for something that isn't mean to its characters then turn it off/walk out as soon as it says 'based on true events'.

Also, steer clear of documentaries, reality television, tear-jerking romance films, Watership Down, Citizen Kane, All of Stanley Kubrick's/Cohen bros./Lars Von Trier films...the list goes on.

But hey-if it's not for you, then that's fine, I'm not here to judge.

Have fun watching Fireproof.

Re: This film was way too cruel, morbid and depressing *spoilers*

I'm not saying the only worthwhile films out there are "feel-good" films. Kubrick/Coen Bros/Lars von Trier have all made fantastic films. Melancholia was dark and depressing but I loved it. The tone fit the story and characters. Same goes with many of David Fincher's movies, which I enjoy as well. And that's the key word right there- ENJOY.

Mary & Max just didn't work for me at all. The abrupt shifts between humor and extreme tragedy was jarring and weird. The film tries too hard to throw every unfortunate thing it can at its characters, and this cruelty is heightened by the fact that it's an animated film. And before you say "well just stick to your G-rated Disney cartoon musicals," keep in mind that I have seen movies like Grave of the Fireflies, which was arguably more depressing than Mary & Max but was also more effective and riveting in its execution. Still, it's not something I would "enjoy" watching again.

Re: This film was way too cruel, morbid and depressing *spoilers*

I agree. And I think it's unfair to assume that someone who finds this overbearingly depressing can't stomach dark themes. It's simply not true.

I wish I could articulate what it is about this film that makes it too much for me.
Top