Fantastic Mr. Fox
It’s about what you’d expect from a Wes Anderson movie, in animated form: if you find his work twee, you’ll hate it, and if you like its offbeat charm, you’ll enjoy it.
It tries a little too hard for a conventional upbeat-ending structure, I think because it’s ostensibly For Kids, but a lot of the texture in it that made it work for me is not material I think most kids would understand — so it doesn’t exactly work as a children’s movie, but it’s a bit conventional as an animated feature for adults.
For example, substituting the word “cuss” for actual curse words — whether it’s clever or cutesy is a matter of taste (it landed with me as a bit of both), but I loved the throwaway shot of a graffito on a building that says “CUSS.” I can’t think that’s aimed at six-year-olds.
Don’t get me wrong — it’s preferred, and eminently possible, to aim for both demos at once. I just don’t know if this hits them both…or either, in the end. Funny in spots, the voice work is good, but I won’t need to watch it again.
Sarah 41, Death Race 17; 11 of 24 categories completed
Tags: movies Oscars 2010 Death Race Wes Anderson
I just adored this one, and agreed with several reviewers, who said Anderson’s work has always seemed a bit off for real life but perfect for an animated film.
My favorite bits included all the background paintings (staple for Anderson’s films) and the layers of stromilites and other fossils imbedded in the earth as they dig frantically around. And I Floved the dancing, both in the barn and at the end in the supermarket. It looked exactly like how a little kid would animate those characters dancing around.
“I thought you were my lab partner.”
” I am your lab partner.”
“No, you’re not. You’re disloyal.”
I wholeheartedly loved it and will buy the DVD. I’m on the charmed side of the Wes Anderson question.
I saw this with my 8 year old twins and the rest of their second grade cohorts and they all loved it. It was a school field trip and all the second grade teachers had been reading and discussing the Fantastic Mr. Fox in class ahead of time. The kids were warned that the movie would deviate from the book, but it really wasn’t an issue.
So big win with grade schoolers.
As for the chaperoning moms and dads, we all loved it as well.
“I loved the throwaway shot of a graffito on a building that says “CUSS.” I can’t think that’s aimed at six-year-olds.”
I dunno… it reminds me of a friend’s ~5 year old daughter who turned to him in frustration one day and said, “Daddy, you are A VERY BAD WORD!”
“…if you find his work twee, you’ll hate it”
There are people who don’t like Wes Anderson movies? This makes me sad.
We just got around to this last week (at the cheap movies! Woo!) and LOVED it, truly. But, then, we are huuuge Wes Anderson fans, so.
And yes–the graffitied (?) “CUSS” was one of my very favorite parts. Love.
I love Wes Anderson movies (even The Life Aquatic) but I really hated this one; I thought it was trying too hard and I found none of the characters likeable.
I need to see this, because I want to determine for myself whether this should and can win the best animated category over Up. (My instinct says no to the former, yes to the latter.) What do you guys think, if you’ve seen both? I loved Coraline, but for some reason I don’t see it getting the love it deserves. (Tiny knitted sweaters and gloves!!! Who doesn’t love that?)
As a huuuge Wes Anderson fan, I’m obviously biased, but I really loved this movie. And will inevitably buy the DVD. The cuss-substitution still gets brought up around the house and makes me laugh. And I even learned something with the Latin names of the animals.
I also heard great interviews with both Wes and Jason Schwartzman on NPR that basically said that the entire cast of the film holed up in a house together and did everything the characters were supposed to be doing. Picturing George Clooney, La Streep, Bill Murray and Schwartzman literally digging in the dirt together made my day.
@Kristina–I loved Coraline too, both for the story and tiny knitted things. So cute! And it got made in Portland, so hometown pride.
@ Kristina – Up is far, far better than the Fantastic Mr. Fox, and even if it weren’t, it will still win for Best Animated Feature because it has that Pixar cache’ (well-deserved). Unless it pulls off a surprise win for Best Picture, which it won’t. Don’t get me wrong – I really liked Fantastic Mr. Fox, but it just won’t beat Up.
Uh, I meant cachet. Sorry.