Mary and Max (2009)

Director:

Adam Elliot

Writer:

Adam Elliot (writer)

Release Date:

9 April 2009 (Australia)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Drama

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Pen Pal | Australia | Fingernail | Adult Child Friendship

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Toni Collette	...	Mary Daisy Dinkle (voice)
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Max Jerry Horovitz (voice)
Eric Bana	...	Damien (voice)
Barry Humphries	...	Narrator (voice)
Bethany Whitmore	...	Young Mary (voice)
Renée Geyer	...	Vera (voice)
Ian 'Molly' Meldrum	...	Homeless Man (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Flaus	...	(voice)
Julie Forsyth	...	(voice)
Michael Ienna	...	Lincoln
Chris Massey	...	Additional Voice
Shaun Patten	...	Additional Voice
Carolyn Shakespeare-Allen	...	Additional Voice
Leanne Smith	...	Additional Voice

Runtime:

Australia:80 min | Germany:92 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Ontario/Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Melodrama Pictures

Trivia:

All of the water scenes were created with lubricant.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mary looks through the phone book in the post office, the name reads M J A Horowitz. When she writes the first letter, she writes to M J Horowitz. However, when she mails the first letter, the name on the envelope she posts is "Max Horowitz".

Quotes:

Max Jerry Horovitz: [to Mary] Have you ever been a communist? Have you ever been attacked by a crow or similar large bird?

So excellent, that I couldn't recommend it more!

It's hard to describe just how excellent this film is. The story is great, both very funny and touching. The art-design and animation are a delight, thoughtful, very rich in details, and very consistent in style. The music is great. The storyline and direction... I can't find a bad word to say, except that the story drags a little half- way through, but then picks itself up again toward the end. Truly, a must-see. If you like adult animation, this is definitely for you. I agree with those comparing it to Aardman films, Waltz with Bashir and Persepolis, but this movie's animation is so professional, that only Aardman truly compares.