Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett
A crafty fox finds himself and his family targeted for death by the three dumb, plug-ugly farmers who tire of sharing their chickens with the critter.
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PG, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed by:
Wes Anderson
Release Date: Nov 13, 2009
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Flixster User Reviews
Vintage Anderson. It's not his best work, but it's still a hell of a lot of carefully nuanced fun.
What a big let down. I had high hopes for this and they were dashed in minutes of the film starting. A bum film can't recommend it on any level.
If you have not seen UP go see that instead - vastly superior.
Was rather surprised by this film. I had been under the impression it was a 'pure' kids film... but there is plenty in here to keep adults amused too.
Some films just suit certain auteurs like a glove, so it comes to no surprise that Rohald Dahl and Wes Anderson are actually a match made in heaven. Anderson's wit, brilliantly shining through his subtle visual gags, and quirky emotion, with the stru... (read more) Some films just suit certain auteurs like a glove, so it comes to no surprise that Rohald Dahl and Wes Anderson are actually a match made in heaven. Anderson's wit, brilliantly shining through his subtle visual gags, and quirky emotion, with the structure and meaning of family, work together to bring Dahl's book to life with bursts of humor and feeling. Clooney is endlessly charismatic and charming as the title character, giving one of the best vocal performances of the year. Anderson has crafted a film that sucks you into this world, complete with joyful characters and perfectly matched-music ("Street Fighter Man" by the Rolling Stones in an animated film? Brilliant) that makes you want to be with the protagonist for more than just an hour and 27 minutes. It truly is fantastic, Mr. Fox.
Director Wes Anderson (The Darjeeling Limited, The Royal Tenenbaums) was the subject of a minor controversy a few months ago when an L.A. Times profile alleged that the idiosyncratic auteur rarely visited the London set of Fantastic Mr. Fox, his stop... (read more) Director Wes Anderson (The Darjeeling Limited, The Royal Tenenbaums) was the subject of a minor controversy a few months ago when an L.A. Times profile alleged that the idiosyncratic auteur rarely visited the London set of Fantastic Mr. Fox, his stop-motion adaptation of the Road Dahl children's tale, preferring instead to issue orders to his crew via email. If the report is indeed true, Andersonâs poor attendance record certainly didnât detract from the final result. Fantastic Mr. Fox is an utter delight: a lively, endearing comic caper that will appeal equally to both young and old, hipster and non-hipster alike.
Having too often overdosed on self-conscious quirk in the past, Anderson shows admirable restraint with Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the result is undoubtedly his most entertaining and accessible film yet. Admittedly, the filmâs old school, retro-style animation does take some getting get used to; younger audience members, raised on a steady diet of cutting-edge Pixar flicks, might even suspect that theyâre watching some relic produced before they were born. But their skepticism will quickly fade as soon theyâre drawn into the first of several increasingly audacious farm heists mounted by the clever Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) and his rag-tag crew of woodland critter pals.
For a movie that starts out so crazily plotted and energetic, Mr. Fox does flag a bit once the animals have dug into their underground city and the farmers are essentially waiting for Fox's next move. But it's not just the densely packed frames, something funny or important stuffed into every corner and inventive filmmaking taking place in every scene, that will keep viewers of all ages interested. Anderson takes Dahl's gift for names and jokes and turns it into a whole new kind of absurdism, in which all possible swear words are replaced with "cuss" and Ash constantly insists, to no one in particular, that he truly wants to be considered an athlete. The voice cast, which also includes Bill Murray and a wonderfully laconic Willem Dafoe as a treacherous rat, is fully invested; whether or not it's due to Anderson's gambit of having them all together acting out the scene, the actors jive perfectly with the movie's deadpan silly style.
Is this a good movie for kids? I honestly have no idea. You know how the Shrek movies always have a bunch of pop culture references that kids won't get but will make their parents laugh? Fantastic Mr. Fox does that, except instead of pop culture references, it's about real estate markets. Seriously. But it's funny. It might be a little over kids heads, but I still think the energy and the fresh design would be enough to hold their interest. One thing I don't know, though, is if they'll enjoy it nearly as much as I did.
hmmm... The animation was great but the story was a bit....dull. typical dry sense of humor from Anderson but does that really suit this type of film? Answer: no.
entertaining, funny, full of action and full of beasties! what else can you ask for? stop motion? well, you got it. a good storyline? you bet you go it! haven't read the book so i don't know how it compares to the original. i guess you will have a pr... (read more) entertaining, funny, full of action and full of beasties! what else can you ask for? stop motion? well, you got it. a good storyline? you bet you go it! haven't read the book so i don't know how it compares to the original. i guess you will have a problem if you don't like wes anderson, or if you are offended by the characters having an american accent. well, i can only say that if you don't like this movie is only because you are no longer a kid. you might have to work on that.
Now, Wes Anderson's Rushmore is in my top 3 favourite films ever, so there was a fair chance i'd really like this, and surprise surprise, I did. Beautiful attention to detail, an endearing theme of looking after your family and community at all costs... (read more) Now, Wes Anderson's Rushmore is in my top 3 favourite films ever, so there was a fair chance i'd really like this, and surprise surprise, I did. Beautiful attention to detail, an endearing theme of looking after your family and community at all costs, and a quite brillaint voice cast.
Biased review as I think Wes Anderson can do no wrong. His films are endlessly watchable. This is no different.
The wolf scene is an instant classic.
Critic Reviews
These weirdly effective shifts in tempo, combined with an attention to detail and distinctive dialogue, make for the best moments in this offbeat adventure.full review
Life is full of surprises. The best one I've had in a good while is Fantastic Mr. Fox.full review
Fantastic Mr. Fox, which Mr. Anderson wrote with Noah Baumbach, and which he has been hoping to make for many years, is in some ways his most fully realized and satisfying film.full review
An adventure in pure imagination that plays to the smart kid in all of us.full review
Fantastic Mr. Fox is possibly the finest picture about family, community and poultry thievery ever made.full review
Fantastic Mr. Fox renews one's sense of animation's possibilities.full review
Cinema-candy for grown-ups. I left the screening room thinking, I want to see this movie again.full review
Anderson prizes the funny over the profound to an extent that keeps the proceedings a tad too light and jovial to register as anything more than a lightweight aside to his more acute, earnest work.full review
The additions are okay; but it's the look that keeps you buoyed up, your eyes roaming the frames, laughing in surprise at the visual jokes and flourishes and textures. It's a dandy's movie, but that adds to the fun.full review
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