Film Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox

"Everthing about this is crazy. Especially him. But that doesn't make it any more fantastic." This is the most simple, yet compelling line of the stop-motion feature film directed by Wes Anderson. Delivered by Mrs. Fox - voiced by Meryl Streep - is the poignant line that sums up the theme of the film. None of it really makes sense (in fact there are several geographical flaws, but we won't get into the nitty gritty stuff), but does there need to be sense in order to convey fantasy? Quite the opposite, actually.

Wes Anderson was really the only person who could direct this film, filling it with voices from his usual cast of comedians and a few actors he hasn't worked with: Bill Murray (Beaver), Owen Wilson (Coach Skip), Jason Schwartzman (Ash Fox), George Clooney (Mr. Fox), Willem Dafoe (Rat) and of course Ms. Meryl Streep (Mrs. Fox). Clooney and Schwartzman artfully delve into their characters to exude not only fox-like qualities, but also capture the mind of a masterful thief and an eager-to-please, but "different" son.

Rated PG for action, smoking and slang humor, this film is certainly appropriate for children but I think adults will enjoy it more for its complex animation and simple storyline (and under 90 minute length). In short, Mr. Fox has retired from thievery and chosen to be a family man. Tired of living in a hole, he says to Mrs. Fox, "Honey, I am seven fox years old. My father died at seven and a half. I don't want to live in a hole anymore, and I'm going to do something about it." So he finds a beautiful tree to move his family too, which also happens to be on the property of the three largest farms in the town, housing chickens, hens and a very strong alcoholic cider. How can he resist one last triple heist (sounds a little familiar to another one of Clooney's hit films, eh)?

In true Wes Anderson fashion, the level of comedy is subtle yet creative. He gives "fox years" and human years - or weeks - when he is distinguishing a passage of time. He inserts the word "cuss" or some form of it when alluding to profanities that the characters speak in. One of my favorite scenes is when Mr. Fox is trying to convince his lawyer friend, Beaver to buy the tree:

Badger: In summation, I think you just got to not do it, man. That's all.
Mr. Fox: I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice.
Badger: The cuss you are.
Mr. Fox: The cuss am I? Are you cussing with me?
Badger: No, you cussing with me?
Mr. Fox: Don't cussing point at me!
Badger: If you're gonna cuss, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!
Badger: You're not gonna cuss with me!
[Both start snarling at each other, and then settle down]
Mr. Fox: Just buy the tree.
Badger: Okay.


If you don't see this film, you'll be cussing sorry.