Director: Wes Anderson
Starring (voices of): George Clooney, Meryl Streep & Jason Schwartzman
A very charming and witty animated film adapted from the Roald Dahl classic. Remaining faithful to the tone of the book and featuring the director’s own trademark style, the film is fun for children and adults alike.
Originally slated to be adapted by Henry Selick, the director behind The Nightmare Before Christmas and, previous Roald Dahl adaptation, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox then fell into the hands of Wes Anderson, originally intending only to produce the film, when Selick chose to make the film Coraline. The results are very strong as the move from producing the adaptation to directing it allows Anderson to apply his usual eye for set design to creating an entire world for Fantastic Mr. Fox via the use of stop-motion animation whilst also allowing Anderson to call upon old friends to provide voices for the characters. Both help Anderson make Fantastic Mr. Fox a family film with real appeal to children and adults.
When he finds out he is about to become a father, Mr. Fox (Clooney) retires from his life as a chicken hunter and settles down as a newspaper reporter with his wife Mrs. Fox (Streep) and their son Ash (Schwartzman). Twelve fox years later and Mr. Fox is yearning for the thrill-seeking life his old career as a fox hunter gave him. When the opportunity comes to move into a new home on the borders of three farms run by the infamously cruel farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean (Michael Gambon), Mr. Fox embarks upon a return to his old career unbeknownst to his family until it brings the wrath of the farmers down upon him, his family and upon the other creatures living in the valley. Mr. Fox must then devise his most cunning plan yet, one that saves his family, regains his status as the ‘fantastic’ Mr. Fox and get revenge on the farmers out to get him.
Wes Anderson has stated in interviews that Fantastic Mr. Fox is a favourite novel and it shows in his adaptations. Whilst the film showcases Anderson’s usual visual cues (set design and costumes for example) and features some familiar names providing voices for the film including Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray and Willem Dafoe, Fantastic Mr. Fox still captures the feel of Dahl’s original children’s story and gives Anderson yet another dysfunctional family relationship to explore.. The characters may be voiced by Americans but the style of the film feels very British in it’s design and the adaptation still includes the themes Dahl included in his book including acknowledging that despite these animals being able to speak and wear clothes, there are still wild animals and Anderson allows their wild nature to show through regularly in between the witty dialogue and well designed and choreographed set pieces. The animation is also very impressive. Choosing to go with stop-motion animation, Anderson is able to control every aspect of set and character design and his attention to detail is often astounding including going so far as to animate the animal characters’ fur moving which only adds to the wildness Dahl intended to portray in the characters.
The voice cast is also very impressive. Whilst including great turns from Anderson film regulars Jason Schwartzman as Ash (Mr. Fox’ son), Bill Murray as Mr. Fox’s Badger Attorney, Willem Defoe as Rat (a competing chicken snatcher) and Owen Wilson, Anderson also brings in new performers in George Clooney and Meryl Streep in the lead roles of Mr. and Mrs. Fox. Clooney is excellent in his role bring his usual charm and humour to role of Mr. Fox whilst also portraying the character’s overconfidence that puts everyone he knows into jeopardy while Streep is smart and sensitive as Mr. Fox’s wife (a role that might usually have been performed by past Anderson collaborator Angelica Huston). Also enjoyable is Michael Gambon who brings the farmer Bean to cruel life and Wes Anderson’s brother Eric Chase Anderson as Mr. Fox’s nephew Kristofferson.
Overall, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a very enjoyable adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel. Whilst not remaining entirely faithful to the details of Dahl’s novel, it remains faithful to the tone and themes of the novel whilst also being very witty and the stop-motion animation and the film’s design is excellent. The film has plenty to enjoy for adults and children alike.
Rating: 4/5
