No thanks on that $80 Million kid-flick to nowhere?

After the Wachowski brothers' 'Speed Racer' -- 'which underwent all sorts of rewrites and reshoots but still turned out to be a flop,' says Patrick Goldstein (L.A. Times).

You'd wonder whats up with that studio-flop-sweat over the $80-million kid-flick that was recently in limbo:

the 'reportedly announced Spike Jonze's troubled fantasy -- (of the Where the wild things are' book) -- will finally land in theatres on Oct. 19, 2009 — almost a year after its original date,' says Defamer.com

The movie’s big problem? -- 'The boy, played by newcomer Max Records, is almost entirely unlikable, coming off as more mean-spirited and bratty than mischievous. Jonze has also had tons of issues with the wild things,' added Goldstein.

'Originally shot as actors in furry creature suits with animated faces, as well as animatronic puppets, they were a big disappointment. Instead of being scary or funny, they almost seemed blank, with little warmth or emotion. Jonze is now retooling the film, using CGI to create more lifelike monsters.'

Add to that -- the 'accounts that when Jonze had a research screening last December, kids in the audience were crying and fleeing the theater – not exactly the reaction the studio had hoped for.'

So, the question here is after spending $80-million plus so far should the story be watered down...to make it less dark??

Or maybe they should they risk it all, staying true to the quirky book about a bratty kid, telling the story without wavering?...

Sounds like (after shelling out way too much cash) -- they will try to 'fix it' to make a film that they think test audiences will just love...

'but, doesn't the image of way-too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen comes to mind here if they undergo massive reshooting??

Like watching a train wreck, it should be interesting to watch the final --(hopefully not-too-watered-down) -- product:

Source L.A. Times