Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation.

Director:

Wes Anderson

Writers:

Roald Dahl (novel), Wes Anderson (screenplay),

Stars:

George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 29 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Clooney	...	Mr. Fox (voice)
Meryl Streep	...	Mrs. Fox (voice)
Jason Schwartzman	...	Ash (voice)
Bill Murray	...	Badger (voice)
Wallace Wolodarsky	...	Kylie (voice) (as Wally Wolodarsky)
Eric Chase Anderson	...	Kristofferson (voice) (as Eric Anderson)
Michael Gambon	...	Franklin Bean (voice)
Willem Dafoe	...	Rat (voice)
Owen Wilson	...	Coach Skip (voice)
Jarvis Cocker	...	Petey (voice)
Wes Anderson	...	Weasel (voice)
Karen Duffy	...	Linda Otter (voice)
Robin Hurlstone	...	Walter Boggis (voice)
Hugo Guinness	...	Nathan Bunce (voice)
Helen McCrory	...	Mrs. Bean (voice)

Storyline

It is the story of one Mr. Fox and his wild-ways of hen heckling, turkey taking and cider sipping, nocturnal, instinctive adventures. He has to put his wild days behind him and do what fathers do best: be responsible. He is too rebellious. He is too wild. He is going to try "just one more raid" on the three nastiest, meanest farmers that are Boggis, Bunce and Bean. It is a tale of crossing the line of family responsibilities and midnight adventure and the friendships and awakenings of this country life that is inhabited by Fantastic Mr. Fox and his friends.

---

Plot Keywords:

fox | farmer | tale | farm | cider | 

---

Taglines:

Meryl Streep is The Brains Behind The Brains

---

Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for action, smoking and slang humor

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [de] Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

25 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

El fantástico Sr. Zorro

Filming Locations:

Three Mills Studios, Three Mill Lane, Bow, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$265,900 (USA) (13 November 2009)

Gross:

$20,999,103 (USA) (2 April 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Indian Paintbrush, Regency Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The red facade of the "Little Theatre" in the scene where Mr. Fox throws burning pines is modeled after the real Little Theatre in Bath, Somerset.

---

Goofs

The film is clearly set in England, according to Mr. Fox's morning paper and other clues. But the wolf's alpine backdrop is like something out of the Rocky Mountains, and Kiley is an American opossum--there are no opossums or any marsupial relatives native to Europe. On the wackbat-trophy's champion-list there is an "M.K. Silvery-Marmoset", a creature found only in very limited areas in Brazil.

---

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 am I? 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!
[Both start snarling at each other, and then settle down]
Mr. Fox: Just buy the tree.
[...]

---

Crazy Credits

The initial end credits play out over the outside shot of Boggis, Bunce and Bean's supermarket.

---

Connections

References Paddington Bear (1976)

---

Soundtracks

"Le Grand Choral"
Written by Georges Delerue
Performed by Georges Delerue
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

User Reviews

Thoroughly Enjoyable

To put it simply, Fantastic Mr. Fox is unlikely to leave you disappointed.

For a start, the animation, is simply wonderful. Gorgeously designed backgrounds and scenery full of simply incredible attention to detail, the film is full of such loving care and attention. Each character feels full of personality and it's refreshing to see something other than a glossy 3D rendered animation film for a change most certainly. It feels like a return to a day where a little imagination was expected in films, which is nice.

Comparing Pixar releases and this film is besides the point. This film wasn't made to be compared or compete with others, it was made to tell a classic children's tale by one of the greatest authors at writing them. Dahl's wife Felicity herself has described her delight at how the film portrays the universe great author created and the modification of the story for film length is smoothly and smartly done. It is a beautifully told story, heart-warming and charming, witty and full of comedic moments.

While Pixar films play like films made for children that can be enjoyed by adults. Wes Anderson's film feels like one made for adults, that can be enjoyed by children. Some parents may not feel too comfortable of the less than subtle replacement of curse words with "cuss" or "cussing" it has to be mentioned however.

The voice acting is excellently done, Anderson took the cast outside, underground and indoors for the varying parts of the film to give it a real feel of authenticity which pays off. The soundtrack, as with all Wes Anderson films, is stunningly good and really elevates the film. After watching you may find yourself searching out the soundtrack as soon as you get home.

The film's style and direction screams Wes Anderson at the top of its lungs and so, haters of his previous work may need to be careful, but I would certainly suggest to give the film a try and see if it can convert you, if not at least not make you feel like you've wasted your money.

As a self confessed Wes Anderson fan I was doomed to love this film no matter what, but am genuinely delighted with the end product and believe that more than just the blind Wes Anderson lover will find this film a charming, witty ride of enjoyment.