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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Fantastic Mr. Fox Review

The opening credits roll and immediately I am transported to my childhood. Images of Gumby, Jack Skellington and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other stop motion icons pop in my head. A smile appears on my face. With my phone on silent, my feet up on the rail and the soda I smuggled in in my hand, I was ready.  Bring it on Wes Anderson.

The movie opens with a wide shot of a young Mr. Fox (George Clooney) leaning up against a tree, foreshadowing the duality of our protagonist.  The beautiful browns, reds, and oranges fill the screen. He is met by his girlfriend, later to be Mrs. Fox. Together they go on one last wild adventure. Cut to: more than a decade later; Mr. Fox is married to Mrs. Fox; is father to Ash (Jason Schwartzman), and has left his wild adventurous days behind him. In the present he struggles with a mid-life crisis of sorts. He misses the wild adventures he and his wife used to have before he was bogged down with being a responsible husband and father. This is where the story lies.  Like a tree he is rooted in his present position in life but reaches for towards the heavens in hope of something bigger.  As a desperate attempt to find that wild animal inside him, he embarks on a master plan to rob the three biggest farmers in the area, he is a fox after all. 

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, while rated PG, is directed toward an adult audience. This isn't a departure from Wes Anderson's style. It deals with issues that are common in Wes Anderson movies such as: teenage angst (Rushmore) and dysfunctional families (The Royal Tenenbaums).  The plot is similar to the Ocean’s trilogy, also starring George Clooney in the titular role.  Like Danny Ocean, Mr. Fox embarks on one last job. The humor can be enjoyed by the whole family especially a cussing scene but some of the subtler humor will go over the heads of children. 

Although a smile was on my face the whole movie, I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied. The ending seemed unearned. 

SPOILER


Mr. Fox was never forced to deal with the consequences of his actions. He had obstacles, yes, his neighbors are one of them but he could always talk his way out of trouble with them and when seemingly backed up into a wall, you dig your way out. Perhaps if Ash was captured instead of his nephew then Mr. Fox might have to truly deal with his behavior.



Despite its shortcoming it is an enjoyable movie, just don’t walk into the theater expecting a movie worthy of being described as fantastic.  

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