Mr. and Mrs. Fox are living a tranquil life with son Ash and visiting young nephew Kristopherson. Ultimately, the pacified existence proves too much for Mr. Fox. 12 years of that kind of living is about all that Mr. Fox can handle, and he reverts to his wild animal instincts.
Before long, he goes back to being a sneaky chicken thief, raising the ire of the Farmers, and endangering the whole animal community, including his own family. Trapped and in danger of starving, the animals cooperate to fight against Farmers Boggis, Bean and Bunce, who have their minds made up that Mr. Fox is to be captured, and they’re pulling out all the stops.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a unique entry into the animated scene, proudly showing up in analog fashion, while nearly every animated feature today tout the latest and greatest in digital technology.
Sure these jittery, furry talking animals look quaint, what with their matted pelts and smooth porcelain eyes, but there is a certain charm in their activity that engages the viewer in a way that a slick digital 3D character simply can’t.
This adaptation of Roald Dahl’s slender anti-fable is blessed with the pedigreed voices with Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and George Clooney in the title role. Director Wes Anderson’s live-action subjects often move like stop-motion figures through landscapes that remind one of a sophisticated diorama more than anything else. In so doing, Anderson shows a stubborn reluctance to let story take precedence over style.
Fantastic Mr. Fox and its retro charms will likely appeal more strongly to grown-ups than to younglings. It is a picture for people who appreciate a classic over contemporary and this film promises to bring some well thought out entertainment value in similar fashion to "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit." Dialogues at times require a measure of maturity to appreciate, as in the exchange between Mr. Fox and his wife when he croons “You’re still as fine-looking as crème brulee.” Older farts, ok you don’t need to be that old, will understand clearly, while the little ones may turn to their parents for clarification.