BooksForKidsBlog

Friday, November 13, 2009

Fine Foxy Flick: Fantastic Mr. Fox: The Movie

A smart, stylish film with a witty but solid theme, based on a classic fantasy by Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The Witches, a voice cast which includes Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, and George Clooney, and all this in an animated movie just in time for the holidays which reviewers agree is at least as much fun for grown-ups as for kids--what's not to like!

Indeed, the reviewers found little to complain about in this PG film,opening November 13 in selected markets and nationwide by Thanksgiving. David Germain, movie critic for the Associated Press, has high praise.

Wes Anderson's story of a poultry-thieving fox and the evil farmers waging war on him is a delightful whirlwind of mayhem and high spirits. It's lightweight fun, yet "Fantastic Mr. Fox" succeeds on all levels, presenting cute and clever little varmints to charm children while offering adults merry screwball humor that slyly stretches the film's family-friendly PG rating.

Clooney's in his best smooth-talker form and Streep's vocals are pure grace and class, supported by great drollery from Schwartzman and frequent Anderson collaborator Murray, providing the voice of a Badger who is Mr. Fox's attorney.

Elizabeth Weitzman, of the New York Daily News, calls the film

...A visual treasure that successfully blends deadpan quirkiness with a wry realism rarely seen in any film, let alone one for children.

But perhaps the highest praise for us librarians comes from Marshall Fine, of HollywoodandVine.com, who dares to slip in a plug for the actual book by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, as well:

Indeed, Fantastic Mr. Fox may convince more than a few newcomers to pick up the book for a read… and for a project as entertaining as this one, that's just icing on the cake.

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posted by GTC at 12:01 AM

5 Comments:

  • Thanks for sharing the reviews. This is one of my son's favorite Dahl books.

    I must say that the first reviewer's statement of "Wes Anderson's story" bugs me a bit. I do hope folks realize what a delight Dahl is and pick up this book, as well as others.

    By Blogger Tricia, at 10:35 AM  

  • Dear Tricia,
    The possibility of confusion from those who don't know Dahl's work prompted me to mention him as the author of the "actual book" in my introductory and closing paragraphs, along with the link to this work.

    Thanks for pointing out that Wes Anderson, a talented moviemaker, is that only, not the creator of Mr. Fox! (No slight is intended to Mr. Anderson, who reports that FANTASTIC MR. FOX was the first book he actually owned as a child and still owns to this day! Film makers who do a respectful and creative job with great children's books are to be appreciated, even cherished, I think!)

    By Blogger GTC, at 9:44 AM  

  • Thanks for sharing, I love reading you should post more often...

    By Anonymous moreclick, at 5:49 AM  

  • Thanks, Moreclick, for your kind praise. But Jeepers! One a day seems like a lot to me--being as how I have to (actually) read these books as well as talk about them!!

    But seriously, comments like yours really inspire me to do both! Please keep visiting my blog and spread the word, if you don't mind!

    By Blogger GTC, at 9:13 AM  

  • "WOW"!!! What a nice Blog...I found your Blog very spicy and Caleb world. It gives me interesting information about the movie The Fantastic Mr. Fox. You include Damn Cool Pics of this movie. Well I have not watched this movie, but your Blog makes me to watch The Fantastic Mr. Fox Movie, So I m very excited to see it

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:59 AM  

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