Mary and Max (2009)

Mary and Max is a tender, darkly comic stop-motion animated drama about an unlikely 20-year pen‑pal friendship between Mary Dinkle, a lonely eight‑year‑old girl in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max Horowitz, a lonely, middle‑aged man living in New York. Their correspondence begins in the mid‑1970s when Mary picks a name from a Manhattan phone book and writes to Max; what follows is a decades‑long exchange that shapes both their lives through love, grief, illness and small, human triumphs. The film blends dry humor and melancholy, often trading broad, oddball comedy for quieter, painful truths about isolation, addiction, mental illness and the difficulty of connecting. The stop‑motion clay animation gives the story a tactile, slightly surreal look that matches its offbeat characters and bittersweet tone. Over the years you watch Mary grow up and struggle with shame, love and loss, while Max — who shows traits of Asperger’s and severe obesity — navigates friendships, work and his own vulnerabilities. Viewing Mary and Max is an emotionally rich experience: expect to laugh at eccentric details and awkward moments, then be moved by moments of genuine tenderness and heartbreak. The film is both funny and unflinching, ultimately compassionate in its portrait of two flawed people who keep returning to each other for understanding. It’s recommended for viewers who appreciate character‑driven stories, dry black comedy, and animation that tackles serious, adult themes. Content note: the film deals with mental illness, addiction and other mature themes and can be emotionally intense.

Actors: Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana

Director: Adam Elliot

Runtime: 92 min

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Drama

8.1 /10 72 /100 8.1 /10 7.8 /10