Rating:

One less “unfilmable” book has finally been filmed, and to great effect. Spike Jonze’s adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are,” Maurice Sendak’s 1963 children’s classic, is charming, affecting and heartbreaking. It could have gone wrong in any number of ways, but never does, and is one of the best movies of the year.

Adapted by Jonze and novelist Dave Eggers (who co-wrote the screenplay), the film is largely successful in its transition from 1960s children’s book with just nine sentences to 2000s movie with a fully formed plot and narrative.

“Wild Things” is the story of a young boy named Max (Max Records), “sent to bed without his supper” in the book’s version, who escapes home, runs away, and ends up at an imaginary island with the “wild things,” a group of monsters who befriend him after he proclaims himself their king.

The film takes the premise of the book and expands on it significantly, giving Max more of a backstory, getting deeper into the relationships between the wild things and even — subtly but surely — setting up parallels between the two. Watch out especially for twin references to “owning the world” — and to subtle references to Max’s parents’ divorce.

The monsters, played by actors in giant suits with the aid of special effects for facial expressions, are firmly and easily established as individual characters, thanks both to excellent costume design and superlative performances by the actors, led by James Gandolfini and also including Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose and Chris Cooper. If the movie had been all-CGI, it probably wouldn’t have worked nearly as well; the costumes were a much better choice.

Jonze, easily the most acclaimed director of music videos in that medium’s history, clearly didn’t lose much in his seven-year hiatus since “Adaptation.” This is Jonze’s first film without screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (who teamed with Jonze on both that film and the 1999 absurdist masterpiece “Being John Malkovich”). The script by Eggers does a commendable job expanding on the less-detailed source material, while the look of the film and Jonze’s style are never anything short of gorgeous.

And that, ultimately, is the film’s best achievement. If the look of the wild things had been wrong, if the tone had been off, if any one element had been out of place, “Where the Wild Things Are” could’ve easily gone off the rails. But it never does. Everything falls exactly into place.

Which is a relief, after the film was delayed considerably amid reports the studio was unhappy with it and even, at one point, wanted Jonze to start over from scratch. Fears were assuaged, however, earlier this year when a trailer, featuring The Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up,” appeared and blew everyone away. That band’s music doesn’t appear in the film, but the music in “Wild Things” is excellent from top to bottom, featuring songs by Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O and a first-rate score by Coen Brothers mainstay Carter Burwell.

Will kids enjoy it? It’s rated PG, and a bit scary at times, but then so was the book. But adults, whether they read the book or not, will almost certainly love this audacious, beautiful adaptation.

“Where the Wild Things Are” Directed by Spike Jonze Starring Max Records, Catherine Keener, and voices of James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper and Forest Whitaker Rated PG My rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)