So Sly, So Charming

For years, Wes Anderson has been delivering idiosyncratic work of the most interesting, intriguing, and amusing kind – like Rushmore and one of my faves, The Royal Tenenbaums.

His films have been, in essence, cartoons come to life, odes to the quirks of his wondrous imagination.

With the critically acclaimed Fantastic Mr. Fox – a film that, yes, I’ll say it, is pretty frakkin’ fantastic – his take on on Roald Dahl’s 1970 children’s book, Anderson delivers his most fully realized film, one poised to be appreciated by a mass audience, for it is so winning.

The stop-motion animated tale of the restless Mr. Fox is a triumph. It’s got humor, high jinks, adventure, heart, and smarts. Kids and adults alike will enjoy it so.

It also has a stellar voice cast that includes George Clooney in the titular role, Meryl Streep as the long the long-suffering Mrs. Fox, and one of Anderson’s most valuable players, Jason Schwartzman as little Ash Fox.

They may inhabit a flat, animated world, but Mr. Fox and his friends are phenomenally lifelike, which gives Fantastic Mr. Fox texture and nuance, both in its look and its storytelling.

The Foxes are living an idyllic home life with their son Ash when they receive young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson), whose arrival coincides with former star chicken thief-turned-journalist Mr. Fox’s renewed interest in the life.

He’s a wild animal, you see, and he can’t be helped. Plus, the way he figures it, he doesn’t have very many fox years left in him, and he wants excitement back in his life, no matter what anyone, including Mrs. Fox, has to say about it.

But by reawakening his old habits, he endangers not only his beloved family but the whole animal community by going after the three most powerful farmers in the land, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.

Trapped underground without enough food to go around, the critters band to fight the evil humans, who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost.

Seeing Mr. Fox get himself in a jam is entertaining enough alright.

Watching him pull it together and come out the other side is priceless, especially when you see it through Anderson’s eyes. Fantastic Mr. Fox is stamped with his visual signature, which has never suited a film more absolutely.

My Rating ****

Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.