According to the media, the studios were terrified because they couldn't understand the plot arch. I don't know if the final film is substantially different because of their concerns, but the plot is clear, the pace is good...
Like Jonze's previous work, this is a piece of art disguised as popular media. The set design is brilliant, the minimal dialog is poignant... so much so that my heart hurt for Max, for every adolescent, for myself. This is a film about our messiness, about our fragility.
There were intense scenes, intense emotions. Max Records was up to the task. His appearance on Friday's "Tonight Show" was a little off-putting (he seemed very uncomfortable)... Whatever Spike did on set, it worked. The kid was magical.