Review of Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) by Craig M — 13 Aug 2013

I have anticipated this film for quite some time. My anticipation was not disappointed, as the usual Anderson tropes were well-layered with what little I know of the spirit of Roald Dahl.

Having said that, this is not an amazing film, especially if you've seen other stop motion animated features. However, it sure is a feel-good movie and I certainly haven't seen one of those that didn't drip with schmaltz and saccharine in quite some time.

The characters are all very clearly drawn, with very clear motivations -- clear to adults, anyway. I was shocked at how many children crawled about the floor during the showing I attended. And really, if you take your kid to a late evening showing and there are words on the screen that you have to read to your child -- your child is too young to be at that late of a movie.

Besides which, FMF just doesn't strike me as a family film, before or after I saw it, cuss you very much. I hope that this film (and "Where the Wild Things Are") -- rather a trend now, isn't it? -- doesn't lead to some unnecessary hipster-ing of America's youth.

I had some problems with the soundtrack, as I usually do with a Wes Anderson film. The egregious offender here is "Petey's Song," which seemed like a desperate Oscar bid if I'm being honest.

Meryl Streep is delightful, as usual, as Felicity Fox. "Can I speak to you behind this mineral deposit? I am about to lose my temper." Priceless!