Wes Anderson Directs Animated Version of Roald Dahl Classic
When you think of Wes Anderson, what ordinarily comes to mind is a
sublime sense of humor appealing to a sophisticated cinematic palate, as
evidenced by movies like Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited. Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, represents a substantial departure for the
wry director from his trademark, understated fare for a foray into a
readily-accessible, animated adventure ostensibly aimed at kids.
Based on Roald Dahl's children's novel of the same name, the film
stars George Clooney in the title role with a supporting voice cast featuring
Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe and Jason Schwartzman.
Superficially, the movie looks a lot like Chicken Run (2000), another
stop-motion cartoon set on a farm. But that's where any similarities end because
Fantastic Mr. Fox proves to be not nearly as charming, coherent or comedic as
that delightful crowd-pleaser.
The plot is only loosely based on the book, and revolves around a
chicken thief (Clooney) who tries to go straight after being caught in a trap
while burglarizing a hen house. But after settling down with his wife, Felicity
(Streep), to raise their son, Ash (Schwartzman), and nephew, Kristofferson (Eric
Chase Anderson), he soon becomes bored with his safer line of work as a
journalist.
Missing both the taste of chicken and the excitement of staging
daring raids, Fantastic Mr. Fox decides to pull off one last big job before
finally retiring for good. So, with the help of Kylie (Wallace Wolodarsky), an
opossum, he hatches an elaborate plan to steal poultry and cider from a trio of
neighboring agribusinesses owned by a trio of mean, gun-toting fox-haters:
Franklin Bean (Michael Gambon), Walter Boggis (Robin Hurlstone) and Nathan Bunce (Hugo Guinness).
In the wake of the heist, during which Mr. Fox suffers the indignity
of having his tail shot off, the irate farmers resort to desperate easures to
catch him. Unfortunately, neither side looks particularly sympathetic in the
ensuing, escalating battle of wits. The owners destabilize the local eco-system,
excavating fields and flooding foxholes, to flush out the wily predator, while
the four-legged perp selfishly endeavors to devour rather than rescue the
livestock caged by the corporate conglomerates.
The movie's glaring absence of a moral compass might be forgivable
if it at least elicited a few side-busting belly laughs along the way. Instead
it tends to trade in a plethora of pithy comments like, "He's just another dead
rat in a pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
In essence, what we have here is a creepy cartoon filled with
inappropriate inside jokes that are mostly over the head of the desired tyke
demographic, exactly what one would you expect of a claymation vehicle crafted
by the cerebral Wes Anderson. Too bad adults aren't apt to be any more engaged
by this uninspired variation on the age-old, children's fairy tale theme of
farmers vs. foxes.
Been there, seen that!
Fair (1.5 stars)
Rated PG for action, smoking and slang.
Running time: 88 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
December 2009
