A fantastic animated comedy with a strong clear message

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2011)

Before you read any further I would like to warn you that this review may contain spoilers. The Fantastic Mr. Fox is a delightfully colorful animated comedy film about a Fox who is addicted to stealing birds from farmers directed by Wes Andersen. The film is filled with an outstanding ensemble of cast members who lend their voices to the many unique characters. In the movie Mr. Fox (George Clooney) and Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) are stealing chickens from a farm and they are caught in a fox trap. Mrs. Fox tells Mr. Fox that she is pregnant and he vows that if they make it out of that mess he will never steal another bird again. Mr. Fox lives up to his word but is not happy with his current line of work. The ultimate plot in this film takes place when the family moves to a new home above ground. Mr. Fox and Kylie Sven Opossum (Wally Wolodarsky) plot to steal the possessions of each of the three farmers whose properties are in proximity to Mr. Fox's new home. Nathan Bunce (Hugo Guiness) raises Ducks and Geese, Walter Boggis (Robin Hurlstone) raises chickens, and Franklin Bean (Michael Gambon) raises turkeys and grows apples. The theme of this film is that the decisions one person makes not only affects that person but can also have a profound affect on the people around that person. Mr. Fox's decision to steal from the farmers' greatly affects the landscape around him. As the film develops, the farmers plot to get revenge on Mr. Fox for stealing from them. They will stop at nothing and don't care who is harmed in the process as they try and get to Mr. Fox who has gone underground with his family. This sets off a major chain of events and leads to the compromise of the safety of all of the animals in the wilderness. All the animals are forced underground because of Mr. Fox and his uncontrollable desire to steal from the farmers. The decisions people make don't always have to have a negative effect on people. They can also lead to a positive outcome but they still have an effect on another person's life. A good example of this is the Tears of the Sun Movie. If the soldiers' decide to leave, all of the refugees die, but the soldiers' decision to risk their own well being to save the refugees helped to save a majority of them. The lighting underground when the other animals finally meet up with Mr. Fox and his family is that of flashlights and a dim lamp. This coupled with the close-up shots show the element of how Mr. Fox realizes the seriousness of what he has caused and the effect of the others. Another aspect of the film is the motif of them continually being shown digging around underground. This shows the effect of the decisions that Mr. Fox has made on the other animals and their attempts to adjust. You should always weigh all decisions carefully. There are consequences to every decision that a person makes in life and you should know how that decision not only affects you but what affect it may have on those close to you.