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Created Jun 19, 2010 11:29AM PST • Edited Mar 02, 2014 04:09PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   A sly fox of a movie, more for adults than kids, notwithstanding that it’s from a children’s novel, Fantastic Mr. Fox deftly spins an involving tale from start to finish. Writer-Director Wes Anderson uses stop-action animation to impart a superhero vibe that – together with a considerable amount of droll charm – leads to several LOL moments. Foxy.

   The redemptive story revolves around a sly thief who becomes an upstanding husband and father, until the old urges overpower him. His son – hardly a chip off the old block – tries and tries to win his favor. His patient and strong wife tolerates his antics, up to a point, while the members of his community reluctantly get drawn into the mess he creates. Transcendent hi-jinks ensue.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   George Clooney does deadpan very well, making him a perfect choice for Mr. Fox. The great Meryl Streep was less distinctive as Mrs. Fox.

   Other notables transcending the animation include several Wes Anderson favorites:

   • Jason Schwarzman as the odd ball kid.
   • Bill Murray as the badger/lawyer.
   • Willem Dafoe as the sly Rat.
   • Owen Wilson as Coach Skip.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Wes Anderson’s dry wit animates the story as much as the self-consciously retro stop-motion animation seen on screen. Think Rushmore filtered through Roald Dahl’s transcendent children’s story.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Very Good 3.5

    Roald Dahl also wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wow.

13. Music Great 4.0

    Let Her Dance from the Bobby Fuller Four (the 60s group best known for I Fought the Law) is the highlight of an eclectic soundtrack that also includes a Stones song (Street Fighting Man), several from the Beach Boys, Burl Ives (yes, Burl Ives), and Art Tatum. It works.

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

17. Sex Innocent 1.1

18. Violence Gentle 1.3

19. Rudeness Polite 1.2

21. Reality

    Supernatural 3.2

    My cat – great hunter that he is – recently cleaned out a nest of possums, leaving several alive for me to return to the wilds of the back 40. What strange, passive creatures opossums are. Thus I got an extra kick out of Mr. Fox’s useless buddy Kylie the Possum, he of the transfixed eyes and nearly catatonic demeanor.

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.1

23. Biological Supernatural 3.9

24. Physical Supernatural 3.6