Wes Anderson, the dark, funny mind behind
Rushmore and
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, tackles stop-motion animation in
Fantastic Mr. Fox, an adaptation of the popular Roald Dahl children's novel. The unusual animation technique gives the film an appearance somewhere between
Wallace & Gromit and
Team America; either way, it's a refreshing break from Pixar's CGI prowess, which lost its charm right around
Finding Nemo.
The film has no shortage of big-name celebrities and Anderson regulars: George Clooney voices Mr. Fox with Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox and Jason Swartzman as their son, Ash. Other contributors include Bill Murray (who is unfortunately underused), Willem Defoe, and Owen Wilson. The cast is there, and, luckily, the film is able to live up to its vocal talent.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is the story of a charming, albeit mischievous fox who is stuck in a rut after he promises his wife that he will give up stealing and settle down (
Ocean's Eleven, anyone?). When he decides to (literally) move up in the world, Mr. Fox is tempted by the bounty of his nasty neighbours' farms and begins to fall into his old ways, which comes at the cost of his family's safety.
Much of the film's humour early on stems from Mr. Fox's frustration with living the so-called American dream - that is, if you trade in the suburbs for a foxhole. Therein lies one of the film's main points of criticism: it's funny, but not made for children. Much of the film's humour would be lost on a child - like the quips about platinum credit cards and the recurring joke of substituting the word "cuss" for actual swear words - but then again the film was never marketed as the next
Incredibles. Instead of being like the Disney movies that mixed in humour for the parents as well as the kids, this one is pretty much just for the parents.
For an animated film,
Fantastic Mr. Fox successfully keeps the viewer's attention. It is engrossing aesthetically, as the animation changes depending on the action. When the camera is far away, it feels like you're looking at a set of toys on a giant landscape, while scenes involving Mr. Fox and his partner in crime Kylie (an opossum) climbing an electric fence, flash their bodies between how they normally appear and black paper cutouts to simulate electricity running through them.
Anderson's trademark deadpan humour shines throughout the film, while the quirky visuals and talented cast each add an important element. The story is clever, sweet, and much of it surprisingly easy to relate to. Although it may not be the book you remember reading as a child,
Fantastic Mr. Fox allows you to enjoy the story as an adult, as well.
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