Fantastic Mr. Fox – USA/Great Britain – 1 hr, 27 min – Wes Anderson
This adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, using stop-motion animation, is a silly, funny “kids film” for adults. From tweehipster Wes Anderson, it’s the story of a resourceful fox who battles three evil farmers. Featuring a treasure trove of quirky details, retro-gizmos and sweethearted charm, as well as the voice work of Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Jason Schwartzman.
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Wes Anderson is at it again. A fine little film. Sort of Wallace and Gromit for neurotic American hipsters. I like, I like. People are praising George Clooney for his vocal stylings, but for my money, Jason Schwartzman steals the show. Very amusing. (Meryl Streep? I didn’t even remember it was her until the end credits, that’s how powerful her performance was.) But is it a kids film for adults or an adult film that kids can like, too? I say, any film that has a fox battling evil farmers and a rabid dog is definitely a kids film for adults. But a subtle and entertaining one, nonetheless.
My recommendation? Go see this film!!!
This was a wonderful movie. Very funny, awkward at some parts, and overall entertaining. I suggest everyone go see this fantastic film!!!
Even though MR. FOX’s edges are rough, it has a genuine heart bathed in a warm amber luster that makes it feel so full and vital. The degree of craft and care that Anderson puts into this film is almost two-fold from his normal tendency, simply because MR. FOX is an utterly from-scratch hand-made slice of magic! Its humor and intelligence is compounded into every little detail; his allowance for incidental discovery within the filmmaking process, and even in the way the voices are recorded. I air on the side of calling MR. FOX a “kids film for adults” simply because I found its brand of comedy quite subtle; often quick, with a peculiarly authentic observance ingrained in behaviors and emotions. Maybe too subtle for children as a whole, but it contains an energy, a tone, enough instances of quirky broader humor, and a rustic charm that I think children will find attractive. To contradict my assumption, more and more animated films are containing great ranges of intelligence, subtlety, wit, and emotion, and children are ever more adept to their occasion, so maybe a lot less will slip past them than I think.