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.