Fantastic Mr. Fox
is a perfect blending of Roald Dahl’s storytelling and director Wes Anderson’s
unique sensibility as a playful semi comic film maker who deals with serious family
topics in such wonderful whimsical films as The Darjeeling Limited (2007), The Life
Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), and The
Royal Tenenbaums (2001). His films have attracted a cult following for his
unusual understated comic style and this, his first animated film, fits right
in with that style and is considered one of his best.
The set design and character animation is richly textured
and alive with eye catching, lavish detail and has a hand crafted organic
quality that immerses you in its warm scenic world of English
countryside farmlands, and a varied array of furry creatures like foxes,
badgers, rabbits, moles, weasels, rats etc., living underground in a cozy domestic
English lifestyle.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
is about a middle aged family man fox going through a midlife crisis and living
with his wife and son in the English country side as he struggles between his
animal instincts to rob chickens and food from nasty neighboring farmers and
his duties as a husband and father. His thieving exploits results in a full
scale war with the farmers who want revenge, putting his entire community in
danger. There are themes running through the film of father-son/husband wife
relationships, recognition of our natural talents, mentoring/bullying, family survival,
and being true to our nature.
The story feels like a moral animal fable by Aesop with its
charismatic, over confident Mr. Fox, voiced by George Clooney, stumbling into
one mess after another as he tries to regain his status as a community champion
and relive the glory days of his youth.
Theme wise Fantastic Mr. Fox has a lot in common with Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) which also dealt with the midlife crisis of a middle aged husband trying to regain the superhero status of his youth as he struggles with family responsibilities.
Theme wise Fantastic Mr. Fox has a lot in common with Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) which also dealt with the midlife crisis of a middle aged husband trying to regain the superhero status of his youth as he struggles with family responsibilities.
The rest of the cast include Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, Bill
Murray as Badger his lawyer, Owen Wilson as a
whack bat coach, Willem Defoe as a security guard rat and Brian Cox as a
small town reporter.
Watch for Wes Anderson’s new film called Moonrise Kingdom coming May 25th
2012.
JP
6 comments:
Fantastic Mr. Fox was a movie that just didn't do it for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high because of the pedigree surrounding the project, but I found the performances flat and the story a bit tired.
But then, everything pales next to Wall-E... !
Yes Wall-E was a great film by Pixar,
and directed by Andrew Stanton who also directed the new film John Carter which is opening in cinemas this Friday.
Those are two of my favorite actors, so I guess I'll have to see it! Thanks for another really helpful review!
I was reluctant to watch this film for so long because the commercials, being Wes Anderson's way of advertising too I suspect, didn't offer much in the way of appeal. The bright colors and quirky gestures seemed to induce that nauseating effect most Japanese children expect in every other show too.
But curiosity got the better of me and I watched it. My wife loved it and I can stand to see it a few more times. I did like the humor. The animation was top-notch too!
I'm glad you reviewed it :o)
Your review has interested me I am definitely going to watch "Fantastic Mr Fox"
Thanks Vivian. Hope you like it.
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