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Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009

D: Wes Anderson

**********

Pros: Animation Style, Humor, Music

Cons: Some Stilted Expressions, George Clooney, Retro Style Sometimes Goes Too Far, Limited Kid Appeal, Questionable Actions by Protagonist

        I’ve always had an interesting relationship with Wes Anderson movies.  I’ve always loved them for their visual style and dry humor, but apparently Anderson’s fanbase feels the need to find far more deep symbolism in them.  It’s for this reason why I think Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is one of his best while most everyone else seems to dislike it.  On the other hand, I think Anderson’s debut movie Bottle Rocket is a bland movie that probably made to get enough success to make the stylish, creative films he wanted to.  Fantastic Mr. Fox is his first true foray into family movies, an animated film based on the Roald Dahl classic.  It was also released a mere day apart from another movie with similar hipster appeal.

      One problem I have with this movie is the casting of George Clooney as Mr. Fox.  While he is fitting for a dry comedy (which is why he was actually pretty well cast for a deadpan Adam West homage in Batman & Robin), he lacks the impish quality required for this role.  Conversely, Jason Bateman manages to do both very well as Nick Wilde in Zootopia.  Wes Anderson movies tend to feature most of his collaborators out of obligation and, for some reason, a guest A-Lister in the starring role.  Another casting property is his underuse of comedic powerhouse Bill Murray, this time playing a badger lawyer more professional than a certain other one that comes to mind.  Other cast members include Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, Jason Schwartzman as their son, Willem Dafoe as Rat, Michael Gambon as Farmer Bean, Hugo Guinness as Bunce, Robin Hurstone as Boggis,  Wallace Wolodarsky as Fr. Fox’s lovable beta Opossum Kylie, Eric Anderson as Kristofferson, Owen Wilson as Coach Skip, Wes Anderson, Jarvis Cocker, Helen McCrory, Karen Duffy, Roman Coppola, Garth Jennings, Brian Cox, and Adrien Brody.

        While the story has some heart, it’s not perfect.  I’m not that familiar with the source material outside of vague childhood memories, but Mr. Fox needlessly squanders his family’s well-being by raiding the Farmers’ products, and his actions result in the entire animal community’s being forced into living in a underground commune to escape the reprisal.  Granted, he is called out on this.  There are some good heartfelt moments as well.  Mr. Fox has multiple scenes in which he bonds with this family, and I like the introduction in which Mrs. Fox’s informing him of her pregnancy provides them the motivation they need to escape a trap.  Anderson fans seem to like the theme that Mr. Fox is simultaneously intrigued and intimidated by his potential bestial side, which explains his fist-raising to the wolf at the end after expressing fear of that species.  And here I was thinking that was just a funny joke about the romanticization of wolves.  Turns out there was serious symbolism going on there.  Still, the theme of a man split between primitive urges and human obligations is a good one.  The movie shows consequences for Mr. Fox’s irresponsibility and extols dedication to family and community.  Mr. Fox momentarily attempts to justify his folly by calling it “honesty,” but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be treated with prudence.  The movie is ultimately a celebration of commitment over individualism.  I’m all for deathbed redemption, but Rat’s seems to be hilariously unearned on purpose.  I’m not completely sure it was intentional joke. 

       As for the humor, it's quite good.  Creative and dryly witty, much of it will go over kids’ heads.  The movie is proof that adult humor and stylish animation are possible to combine.  One deconstructive joke I like is a scene in which a fictional sport is depicted.  In an apparent parody of how world-building can hijack plot (such was the Pro-Bending in Legend of Korra and Quidditch in Harry Potter) the sports (hilariously contrived) rules are glossed over with a character’s immediately understanding them followed by a quick demonstration, and that’s it.  Anderson and Noah Bumbauch deserve props for this movie's humor.  I also like how the characters call ski masks “bandit hats.”

      The stop motion animation is distinctive and the scenery is in keeping with Anderson’s style.  Many of the shots are beautiful, and the effects have a diorama-like look to them.  Credit should be given to cinematographer Tristan Oliver and production designer Nelson Lowry.  There are moments in which a pregnant character is replaced by a plastic sculpture with a light bulb inside in a funny twist of style.  My one complaint in this field is that the characters’ expressions are too stilted, sometimes to creepy effect [just Google (trigger warning) "fantastic mr fox smile"]  This was improved in Isle of Dogs.

       The charming score is provided by Alexandre Desplat and it was nominated for an Academy Award.  I also think it would have been nice to award him Best Song for “Boggis, Bunce, and Bean” while nominating Christopher Young and Michael Giacchino for their scores for Drag Me to Hell and Star Trek.  While the movie has a great retro 70’s aesthetic, it goes too far with it with some blatant musical choices as well as Rat’s obvious beatnik persona.  This is ultimately the greatest flaw of the film.

      Despite its flaws Fantastic Mr. Fox is a gem, and it’s a refreshing alternative to modern CG cartoons.  Its distinctive style, humor, and the unique way in which it has heart it perfect for adult audiences, but its appeal to children might be an issue.  It’s appropriate for showing them, but they might have to grow into the humor.

QUOTES

BADGER: In summation, I think you just got to not do it, man. That's all.

MR. FOX: I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice.

BADGER: The cuss you are.

MR. FOX: The cuss I am?  Are you cussing with me?

BADGER: No, you cussing with me?

MR. FOX: Don’t cussing point at me!

BADGER: If you're gonna cuss with somebody, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!

MR. FOX: You’re not gonna cuss with me!

[They stand up and snarl at each other]

MR. FOX: Who am I, Kylie?

KYLIE: Who how, what now?

MR. FOX: Why a fox? Why not a horse, or a beetle, or a bald eagle? I'm saying this more as, like, existentialism, you know? Who am I? And how can a fox ever be happy without, you'll forgive the expression, a chicken in its teeth?

KYLIE: I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds illegal.

[Agnes is distracted by Kristofferson during science class]

ASH: You’re supposed to be my lab partner.

AGNES: I am!

ASH: No, you’re not.  You’re disloyal.

KRISTOFFERSON: Coach, we don’t have whackbat where I’m from.  What are the rules?  There’s no whackbat on the other side of the river.  We mostly just run grass sprints or play acorns.

COACH SKIP: Basically, there's three grabbers, three taggers, five twig runners, and a player at Whackbat. Center tagger lights a pine cone and chucks it over the basket and the whack-batter tries to hit the cedar stick off the cross rock. Then the twig runners dash back and forth until the pine cone burns out and the umpire calls hotbox. Finally, you count up however many score-downs it adds up to and divide that by nine.  Go in for Ash.

KRISTOFFERSON: Got it.

COACH SKIP: Substitution!  Ash, come out.  You need a breather.

ASH: What about-what?  I’m out?  I still feel good, Coach.  Lemme finish this eighth!

COACH SKIP: No, come on.  Step out, step out, let’s go. [Kristofferson enters the game]

ASH: Am I getting any better, Coach.

COACH SKIP: Well, you’re sure as cuss not getting any worse.

ASH: Really, You mean you think I could end up being as good as my dad if I keep practicing?

COACH SKIP: Your dad?  Your dad was probably the best whackbat player we ever had in this school.  No, you don’t ever want to have to compare yourself to that.

ASH: No, but I think I have some of the same raw natural talent, don’t you?

COACH SKIP: You’re improving.  Let’s put it like that.

MRS. FOX:  I'm going to lose my temper now.

MR. FOX: When?

MRS. FOX: Right now.

MR. FOX: Well, when…

[Mrs. Fox slaps him]

MR. FOX: Ow!

MR. FOX: Twelve fox years ago, you made a promise to me, while we were caged inside that fox trap, that if we survived, you would never steal another chicken, turkey, goose, duck, or a squab - whatever they are, and I believed you. Why? Why did you lie to me?

MR. FOX: Because I’m a wild animal.

MRS. FOX: You are also a husband and a father.

MR. FOX: I’m trying to tell you the truth about myself.

MRS. FOX: I don't care about the truth about yourself. This story is too predictable.

MR. FOX: Predictable? Really?  What happens in the end?

MRS. FOX: In the end, we all die.  Unless you change.

MR. FOX: When I look down this table, with the exquisite feast set before us, I see: two terrific lawyers, a skilled pediatrician, a wonderful chef, a savvy real estate agent, an excellent tailor, a crack accountant, a gifted musician, pretty good minnow fisherman, and possibly the best landscape painter working on the scene today. Maybe a few of you might even read my column from time to time, Who knows? I tend to doubt it.

MR. FOX: The whole time I was putting paw over paw with your mother digging beside me, and I thought to myself: I wonder who this little boy...

ASH: Or girl!

MR. FOX: Right, 'cause at the time we didn't know. I wonder who this little boy or girl is gonna be? Ash, I'm so glad he was you.

BEAN: What are you singing, Petey?

PETEY: Just... just making it up as I went- as I went along, really.

BEAN: That's just weak songwriting. You wrote a bad song, Petey!

MR. FOX: One of those slovenly farmers is probably wearing my tail for a necktie.

[Cuts to Bean doing just that]

MR. FOX: My suicide mission’s been cancelled.  We’re replacing it with a go-for-broke rescue mission.

MR. FOX: Alright, let’s get planning.  Who knows shorthand?  [Linda raises her hand] Great!  Linda!  Lutra Lutra!  You got some dry paper?  [she holds up some paper]  Here we go. Mole! Talpa Europea! What d'you got?

MOLE: I can see in the dark.

MR. FOX: That’s incredible!  We can use that! Linda?

LINDA: Got it.

MR. FOX: Rabbit!  Oryctalagus Cuniculus!  

RABBIT: I’m fast.

MR. FOX: You bet you are.  Linda?

LINDA: Got it.

MR. FOX: Beaver!  Castor Fiber!

BEAVER: I can chew through wood.

MR. FOX: Amazing!  Linda?

Linda: Got it.

MR. FOX: Badger!  Meles Meles!

BADGER: Demolitions expert.

MR. FOX: What? Since when?

MRS. FOX: They’ll kill the children!

MR. FOX: Over my dead body they will.

MRS. FOX: That’s what I’m saying.  You’d be dead too in that scenario!