I pick this movie as my favorite from 2009. It is just so great. Subtle, dry and hilarious. Even upon a 2nd viewing at the dollar theater I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Maybe even more because there was a larger, more responsive audience on try #2. Really, though, if you haven't seen this yet, go check it out. If it's gone you'll have to wait until March 23rd when it comes out on DVD. It is worth your time.
Now after that glowing praise a word of caution: this movie is definitely not for everyone. If you're a fan of the book, you might like it. If you are a fan of Wes Anderson (the director. See also: The Royal Tenebaums, Life Aquatic, Bottle Rocket, et. al.) you most definitely will like it. It is so classic Anderson it's not even funny, or rather it IS even funny. His characteristic dry wit and quirky family relationships abound in this stop motion piece of wonderfulness.
The animation is jumpy and awkward, but that's just the charm of it all. I love stop motion and Wes Anderson and his team have done a great job with it. But the heart of the film is in the voice-acting. With George Clooney leading the pack (intentional pun) it's hard to go wrong. He does great as the title character, but I will have to admit my favorite character is Ash, Fox's son (voiced by Jason Schwartzman). Schwartzman is so monotone and pitch perfect as the neglected son of Fox. For examples of this brilliance reference scenes where Ash and his cousin Christofferson discuss sleeping arrangements or Ash and his coach (Owen Wilson) discussing his potential as an athlete.
I could go on, but too many thoughts run through my head. Just go see the movie and if you don't like it, that's fine. Just don't be like the girl in the class I TA who, every time I mention this movie, says, "Ughh, mgoshthatwastheworst, ugh, mpfht, ugh, thists, thsihft." But you should like it. Cuss yeah!
For the very interested: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1571554585/
Rating: 73 Boggis Chickens, 67 Bunce Geese, 85 Jugs of Bean's Cider
1 comment:
Jack. It occurs to me that we might have the exact same taste in movies. I too agree that Fox was the best film of 2009. I even said that to a bunch of film students in my intro to video class and they all scoffed at me. My wife bought me the dvd for father's day and we've seen it about 7 times since. Currently my favorite character is Kylie.
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