It’s hard to avoid attaching the most obvious superlative to this film
but in the end, ‘fantastic’ wouldn’t do it justice anyway. Fantastic Mr Fox is phenomenal. It refuses to put a foot wrong, but instead sings along with consummate ease. Everything is just as it should
be so what follows is really just a list of the elements of cinema.
The look – director Wes Anderson makes the vintage stop-motion style
seem like it was designed specifically for him. The movement, the
incredible attention to detail and overall aesthetic are a pleasure to
watch and are pushed to their limit.
The cast – when you’re packing a couple of leads
like George Clooney and Meryl Streep, things are looking good. On top
of their rich vocal talents, we also get brilliant support from the
likes of Jason Schwartzman, Michael Gambon and Bill Murray; as well as
a great cameo from Owen Wilson.
The story/tone/structure/timing – are all superb.
Anderson and co-writer Noah Baumbach’s adaptation of the classic Roald
Dahl story sparkles with wit, comedy and character. They bring the
fox’s tale of a battle with three evil farmers to the
screen intact. The whole experience reeks of fun and every beat is
punctuated with a wide smile from us.
This is a great cinematic experience. It perfectly
fits the mould Dahl sculpted with his fiction – dark and twisted in a
way only children will truly get.
Straight out of the gate, this will be a highlight of the year.
