Fantastic Mr. Fox

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A clever, chicken-stealing fox puts his family and an entire group of furry critters in danger when three angry farmers decide to exact their revenge.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky, Eric Chase Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jarvis Cocker, Wes Anderson, Karen Duffy, Robin Hurlstone, Hugo Guinness

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! I loved this imaginative, clever and funny, stop-motion animated film. But it’s more of an adult film than a kids’ flick, with the humor and themes being more sophisticated than most animated movies.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The movie is a comedy, and yes, it will make you laugh. Both clever sight gags and verbal humor will keep you smiling throughout.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: There is a touching emotional theme at its core, but not quite enough to induce water-works.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Hopefully Best Animated Film... Ah, who are we kidding, there's a Pixar film in the works this year.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: This is one of the best cast animated films to come along in years. Maybe you’ll recognize some of the voices behind the amazingly expressive puppets, or maybe not, but it won’t matter. George Clooney brings a nice balance of playfulness and authority to his central Mr. Fox character, and Streep is (as always) perfect as his exasperated but loving wife. Jason Schwartzman conveys a real childlike empathy to their son, Ash, and Owen Wilson steals the one and only scene he’s in as Ash’s coach in a sport that is so comically complicated I couldn’t begin to describe it here. But I’d probably enjoy watching an entire film about it. Oh no, now I'm actually rooting for someone to make a derivative work!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Writer/Director Wes Anderson is often a polarizing filmmaker with a lot of people either loving or hating his movies. Personally I’ve probably enjoyed more of them than I’ve disliked, and Fantastic Mr. Fox definitely has his stamp on it. His deadpan humor and subtle but effective camera moves and actor staging are all here, but the movie also has more obvious heart than some of his live-action films. Beyond the fanciful characters and engaging story, the real achievement here is the look of the film. The design and detail of every character (which are essentially like animated puppets) is breathtaking and original. And if that weren’t enough, the world these characters inhabit is so imaginative and wondrous, you almost have to see it twice to take in every detail.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story starts out strong both in setting up a plot and the main characters, but as things settle in, it has a tendency to meander and become a bit repetitive. While it sets up certain tasks and motivations for characters, it doesn’t always follow through on them in completely satisfying ways. On the other hand, the characters are strong and adults won’t likely be bored by the shenanigans taking place in Mr. Fox’s world.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/fantastic-mr-fox/28110/trailers

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