You've got to appreciate a year where two high-profile kids movies come out that test the limits of what we typically call a kids movie, even if that number is sadly low. Where the Wild Things Are was Spike Jonze's effort, and in my opinion, he knocked it out of the park. Wes Anderson, who has as much, if not more, indie cred than Jonze, takes his chances with the Roald Dahl adaptation Fantastic Mr. Fox. He, like Jonze, wants nothing to do with straight-up, conventional storytelling. So what do you get? A stop-motion, bright (in all of Fall's wonderful colors) motion picture starring a fox voiced by George Clooney.Anderson is best known for his deadpan comedies, such as The Royal Tenenbaums or Rushmore, but tackling this Roald Dahl story shows he has more to him than oddball indies. Sure, Fantastic Mr. Fox feels like an indie film, looks like one, feels like one - and is certainly of the oddball variety - but it isn't what you'd typically expect from Anderson. Viewed as a kids film, this one may push the limits on conventions even more so than WTWTA did from earlier in the year. Anderson's script, penned with friend and writer/director Noah Baumbach, whose The Squid and the Whale is one of my favorite films, is filled with a twisted sense of humor that comes out mostly in the quick-witted dialogue. For example, the film doesn't shy away from cussing, but, as it is geared towards children, the film opts to use the word cuss, in all its many forms, as a substitute for any language parents wouldn't want their kid hearing. I may be quick to use the word genius, but that was one of the most memorable, and enjoyable, aspects of the film.
The visual work is also quite stunning, but not in the same way as WTWTA (sorry for the many comparisons, but these two films are some of the most exciting children's stories to hit the screen outside of Pixar). This is an animated film, and is a throwback to an animation style not often seen anymore, which is sad. As much as CG has changed the movie industry, and is necessary for many films, practical effects still, and rightly so, have a place in cinema. To see the "imperfections," which would equate to the hairs on the characters moving or clothing getting crumpled, is almost magical. Not everyone will be a fan of this style of animation, but I challenge everyone to try and see past the unconventional (damn, there's that word again) nature and appreciate it as more an art form than anything.
All the voice work is perfectly matched, and by that I mean the actors fit their character. Clooney does a great job as Fox, Jason Schwartzman could only play Fox's son, and Bill Murry makes me wonder if Badger was written with him in mind. Obviously, it was. It's Anderson and Murry. Duh. With an animated film, voice work may be the most important detail. If the animation is good, but the voice actors don't seem to fit, then it almost renders the animation useless. Luckily, it all works out here.
In the end, Dahl's story, and dark sense of humor, isn't lost in translation (funny right? Bill Murry was in a movie titled that. Totally unintentional). Anderson respects the source material, and as a result, makes an enjoyable, funny, and gorgeous film to watch. Maybe this is a new trend in family films, which I am now dubbing those films that appeal to both the young and old crowd, where conventions can be tossed and real, interesting film making can replace it. I guess we have to wait and see.
Genre - Animated (3.5)
Screenplay (3)
Acting (4)
Production (4)
Directing (3)
