Fantastic Mr. Fox
Release date: November 25, 2009 (USA)
Reef Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reef Rating: 5/5 Stars
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring the voice talents of:
George Clooney - Mr. Fox
Meryl Streep - Mrs. Fox
Jason Schwartzmen - Ash
Eric Chase Anderson - Kristofferson
Wallace Wolodarsky - Kylie
Bill Murray - Badger
Willem Dafoe - Rat
Michael Gambon - Franklin Bean
When I first heard word of Wes Anderson adapting one of Roald Dahl’s books I of course instantly was both interested and concerned. Being a Houstonian I have always felt inclined to support the work of Houston-born writer/director Wes Anderson.
Thus far I’ve enjoyed his dry sense of humor; kind of like an Americanized version of British humor…but it is also very adult, sophisticated humor, so I couldn’t imagine him doing a family movie.
After seeing the movie I have one thing to say…Fantastic Mr. Fox certainly is FANTASTIC! Wes Anderson has made one of the best films of 2009; one that is just as good as his other movies, if not being his best yet! Everything, from voice-actors, to the use of stop animation: this film is perfectly balanced in what is certainly the best comedy of the year.
How did Wes Anderson pull it off? Well, he honestly didn’t make this so much as a kid’s movie as he did make another entry in his series of odd-ball comedies- only this time cutting back mature subjects to a PG-rating. What results is a very mature comedy that doesn’t resort to cheap gimmicks or slapstick for laughs (though there is a bit of slapstick for those kids who won’t understand the humor in Anderson’s dialog).
The story centers on Mr. Fox (voiced by the always entertaining George Clooney), who is the foxiest fox who ever foxed. An expert chicken thief he likes living dangerously…that is until his lover (voiced by Meryl Streep) becomes pregnant and demands that they settle down. After getting caught in a fox trap he agrees to her terms that if they survive he shall never steal again.
Two years later (which is far more in fox years) the couple is living in a hole with their son, Ash (Jason Schwartzmen). Mr. Fox is a newspaper columnist, who is fairly certain no one actual reads his column and is now upset that he won’t amount to anything (like his father) so he decides they must move out. His choice is a tree, but this tree happens to be located next door to the three meanest farmers the animals have ever seen. His lawyer, Badger (voiced by Anderson regular Bill Murray) tries to talk Fox out of his choice home, but he won’t hear it.
After moving to the tree they are joined by their nephew Kristofferson (voiced by Eric Chase Anderson) who quickly becomes Ash’s center of jealousy. Kristofferson is perfect in just about every way, spending his time meditating while practicing yoga, being naturally gifted in sports – everything Ash wishes he was. This drives Ash to prove his worth to his father no matter what the cost!
But while those trivial matters go on Mr. Fox can’t resist the call of the wild, and with his opossum building superintendent, Kylie (voiced by Wallace Wolodarsky) plans a return to his dangerous life of “cussing with” the farmers’ heads. At first this starts as simple crimes, but soon the farmers declare war against Mr. Fox and the entire animal populace! It becomes the job of Fox save everyone from the farmers’ wrath…which he caused!
There's also a great (not to mention HILARIOUS) bit involving Willem Dafoe as an insane, finger snapping rat-henchman under the employ of the farmers, but I wouldn't spoil that for the you! You'll have to see the movie to get what I'm talking about.
Fantastic Mr. Fox of course differs from its source material, but for what it is Fantastic Mr. Fox is a great comedy. I say “comedy” instead of “animation” or “Family” movie because its values really are more comedy oriented than they are trying to entertain an entire group of people. In fact, the theater I saw this movie in was full of kids under the age of 10 and very seldom did any of them laugh: the humor was just way over their heads, and I won’t hold that against them.
For adults and mat kids over the age of 10 or so Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fantasy comedy full of whimsical characters that will leave them chuckling, and quoting its ingenious script long after they’ve left the theater. Parents can also approve of the film’s message of “everyone has their own individual talents,” be it thief, landscape artist, or demolitions expert.
It won’t stand up against a movie like Pixar’s Up in a ‘Best Animated Feature’ contest, but then again I doubt it was even trying to. What the movie does is set out to be a sophisticated comedy – something that is rated PG, but is just as good as any comedy directly aimed at older audiences. Fantastic Mr. Fox is rated PG but is more adult and sophisticated than this year’s smash hit The Hangover.
Fantastic Mr. Fox truly is the most fantastic movie of the year.
5/5 Stars!
