Fantastic Mr. Fox
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep
My Rating: ★★★★★
For some reason, I had this preconceived notion that since I did not like stop-motion very much, I would not like this film. That assumption was so far from the truth.
Right off the bat, Fantastic Mr. Fox flaunts that Wes Anderson flair. Knowing that Anderson directed the film gave me some initial hope to grapple with. His use of color is so pronounced and exaggerated, which works in tandem to create a world so distant from reality. I feel as if Anderson was the perfect director to tackle this sort of movie. His already “quirky” aesthetic combined with the concept of stop-motion woodland animals appears as a strangely perfect opportunity.
The film follows Mr. Fox, a father, and husband, bored with his current life. In stereotypical fox fashion, he was once a chicken burglar but is now a newspaper columnist. In an attempt to make his life more interesting, Mr. Fox becomes the mastermind behind a heist of three local farmers. The farmers, tired of the cunning and sly Mr. Fox, enact revenge against him and his family. They trap Mr. Fox, his family, and his community of various animals underground to force surrender. Mr. Fox and his fellow animals must utilize their crafty animal instincts to escape the plotting of his vengeful human neighbors.
Overall, Fantastic Mr. Fox was wonderfully creative and witty. It suited my style of dry humor, which was amusing to watch. Despite its advertisement as a children’s movie due to its adaption from a children’s book, it also serves adults well. Its snarky and witty punches make Fantastic Mr. Fox a thoroughly enjoyable watch. The voice acting is likewise phenomenal, alongside the animation and cinematography. Fantastic Mr. Fox ticks all of my boxes for a perfect movie, and I could not recommend viewing anything more.