Utilising classic handmade stop motion
techniques, Anderson manages to tell the story of the best-selling
children's book by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory and James and the Giant Peach) and take it to a whole new level.
I
have yet to encounter a Wes Anderson film that I haven't absolutely
adored from the moment it began, and Fantastic Mr. Fox is no different.
Roald
Dahl's classic tale blends perfectly with Wes Anderson's unique brand
of meloncholic whismy which is again flawlessly on display here, the
inclusion of stop motion animation charm is simply a welcome bonus.
While
not as emotionally penetrating, or wonderfully numbingly muted as The
Life Aquatic or Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox does bring
something new to the overally familiar world and style of Anderson.
The
animation allows for an unexpected new level of comedy to seep through,
with the quick movements and timing offering up some truly unique
vision.
The cast is also great featuring the voices of George
Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe,
Owen Wilson (and even muso, Jarvis Cocker), with Jason Schwartzman
supplying most of the laughs thanks to his patented "Over-Intelligent,
less charming than he thinks he is, arrogant loser" character, along
with a stellar turn from Harry Potter’s Michael Gambon.
It's by
no means Wes Anderson's best work, however it is wonderfully inventive
and fresh – and most importantly – Fantastic Mr Fox is "cuss"-ing good
fun! DVD Special Features
Some great featurettes are floating about which give a small insight
into the painstaking process of stop motion. Well worth adding to your
collection, because both adults and kids will just love it!
Conclusion:
Movie 80% Extras: 65%
|
