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Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009
Movie Review: 'Fox' is fantastic, smart film
With the fanciful, fantastic, funny and furry "Fantastic Mr. Fox," director Wes Anderson can take his place among the top stop-motion animation moviemakers.
The film, based on the mind-twisting writings of Roald Dahl, has the animation charm of "Wallace & Gromit," the quirky humor of an early Woody Allen movie and the twisted tone of a good Quentin Tarantino production.
On the insistence of his wife, Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) has retired from his chicken-catching ways and now works as a newspaper writer. The lure of the hunt is strong, and Mr. Fox hatches a complicated plan to hit three local farms. The successful attacks raise the ire of the farmers, who launch an all-out assault to catch the fox and any other creature living in the local woods. It is up to the quick thinking, quick acting Mr. Fox to save his family and friends.
Merced Sun-Star - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Mr. Fox, voiced by George Clooney, and friends in the amusing "Fantastic Mr. Fox."
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'Fantastic Mr. Fox'
GRADE: A
RATED: PG for action, smoking and slang humor.
STARS: The voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray.
RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 28 minutes.
Clooney is the perfect voice for the savvy and suave Mr. Fox because the actor has just the right vocal ability to be charming and sneaky at the same time. The confidence in his voice sells this movie.
Clooney's not alone. Bill Murray sounds like he was born to voice the Badger and Meryl Streep is in perfect pitch as Mrs. Fox. Even small parts, such as Owen Wilson voicing Coach Skip and Willem Dafoe as a "West Side Story" influenced Rat, are perfect.
Anderson's direction gives the movie a surreal feeling that is perfect for Dahl's writing. The story weaves in and out of reality -- at times making the animals very creaturelike and at other times throwing all logic to the gently blowing wind.
The humor goes from absurd sight gags to very smart jokes.
That kind of combination makes the film more universal and appealing when it comes to luring a diverse audience.
From the opening "Davy Crockett" theme, there's no question this film is a very different and very fun experience. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is fantastic.
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