A visual treat but style definitely trumps substance

Rating: 6/10 (13 April 2020)

This is one of those films I really wanted to love. I grew up on Roald Dahl and really liked the book, probably one of his most charming stories. However, while I really liked some aspects of the movie, it fell a bit short of being memorable.
I will say that the graphics are an absolute treat throughout this film. The stop motion animation is amazing and the sepia tones really work for me. I find that the majority of 21st century animated films are visually overwhelming with far too much happening on the screen. I often feel that the producers are more concerned with showing what they are capable of doing rather than what they should be doing. Fantastic Mr Fox is one of the few exceptions. It is quaint and charming and matches the feel of the book very nicely.
Unfortunately, I felt the telling of the story just got a bit messy. It was not close enough to the original and felt unnecessarily complex at times, especially given the target audience. My other big gripe was with the American accents. I understand the draw of big Hollywood stars, but this story really demands well-spoken English actors. Sir Ian McKellen as Mr Fox with Ricky Gervais as the Rat could have been epic! Having said that, George Clooney did a pretty good job and grew on me as the movie went on.
Ultimately, I felt this was a beautiful production but one that lacked any real substance. I would still recommend it to anyone based on the remarkable animation but it's not something I'd rush to see again.