Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Movie Review

A Cussin' Masterpiece

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 13, 2014

When most directors repeat themselves, it’s typically a sign of artistic exhaustion or perhaps unshakable fixation. In Wes Anderson’s case, his visual repetition has become an irresistible thumbprint, and one of the great moviegoing joys I’ve encountered in recent years is the opportunity to watch this supremely gifted filmmaker use his leather-bound imagination to impart varying stories of eccentric outsiders and their enduring emotional wounds, with each picture connected by exotic aesthetic degrees of detail-oriented splendor. Now Anderson takes his cinematic language to the hand-woven field of stop-motion animation for “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” and, yet again, the helmer shapes a breathtaking cinematic marvel; he finds a magnificent home nestled firmly in the lush textures of the animation, the dancing vocal performances, and delicious wry tone that makes for stunningly fanciful cinema.

Taking a day job as a newspaper columnist to support wife Felicity (voiced by Meryl Streep) and son Ash (Jason Schwartzman), Mr. Fox (George Clooney) has grown tired of suppressing his animal instincts. Planning to infiltrate the chicken and cider farms of the feared Boggis, Bunce, and Bean (Michael Gambon), Mr. Fox and opossum partner Kylie (Wallace Wolodarsky) spring into action, finding the thrill of the steal irresistible. When the heavily armed Bean vows revenge on Mr. Fox, the gruff corporate farmer tears the countryside apart looking for his sly enemy. Digging into the ground, Mr. Fox drags the locals into the fight, leaving the wolf-fearing hero responsible for the community, pushing him to come up with a plan to outwit the unrelentingly combative humans.

Emerging from the divine mind of author Roald Dahl (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach”), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” offers Anderson a hefty slice of whimsy to work with. The filmmaker sticks surprisingly close to Dahl’s plot, showing enormous reverence for the author’s dark tones and natural animal behaviors. Where Anderson’s imagination deviates from Dahl is in the neurotic delivery.

Taking idiosyncratic motifs established in such pictures as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” to the family film arena, Anderson unveils a sure gift for the genre. That’s not to suggest the helmer has watered down his sense of mischief to make a PG animated feature; in fact, “Fantastic” retains a nice edge -- think “Wallace and Gromit” but with flicked cigarettes, dance parties, shoot-outs, and severed fox tails. Anderson conforms to the softer side of the material, having the characters cuss by actually stating the world “cuss” when the mood strikes, and investigating young Ash’s malformed sense of purpose, aggravated by the appearance of cousin Kristofferson (Eric Chase Anderson), a fox of the same age who can do no wrong.

Anderson, scripting with Noah Baumbach, leans into the merry attitude of Mr. Fox, arranging an adventure effort teeming with the sort of frame minutiae the filmmaker is well known for. The world of stop-motion animation only emboldens Anderson’s design fetishes, indulging in this vast world of miniature animals living in miniature homes, fitting Dahl’s characters for new clothes and a hipper soundtrack (which includes The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and “Love,” a cut from the other major fox family film, Disney’s “Robin Hood”), taking his primary colored American Empirical conceptualization to an exhilarating level of visual elasticity and creativity. The animation is stunning to behold, not only for its playfulness and brilliant fluidity, but also for the soft fur textures of the characters, which almost require a reflexive reach toward the screen to sate curiosity. It’s 3-D with 2-D tools, molding a resplendent storybook visual handle to a clever, urban comedy. The ornate decoration goes beyond the animals to the entire “Fantastic” world, teeming with design particulars that will require weeks of study, just to digest how much wit and affection Anderson has crammed into the vast corners of this outstanding picture.

Clooney’s spirited voice work pulls “Fantastic” in a few unexpected directions, humorously teetering between Mr. Fox’s domesticated leadership skills and his feral nature, typically unleashed around food and homestead containment. Anderson’s stocked the rest of the roles with a dynamic range of vocal personalities, with Streep offering a velvety counterpoint to Clooney’s gravely enthusiasm, and Schwartzman and Anderson enjoying the battle of popularity and Whack-Bat skills as the disgruntled child and his more Zen relative. Anderson’s even called in a few favors from old friends (Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Brian Cox also appear) to help personalize the piece.

Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for this Blu-ray accurately represents the original look of the picture, with the full intensity of this HD-shot feature preserved with necessary attention to screen particulars. Detail is king, and everything leaps off the screen, from the wavy fur of the foxes to the delightful textures of set decoration, offered with a stunning, fibrous clarity that permits screen study and powers pauseable moments everywhere. The effort is a master class in minutiae, and the disc successfully isolates all screen activity with splendid balance. Blacks are strong and supportive, though the movie doesn't test them in full, holding to a bright appearance that's assertive with a lush, seventies-inspired color palette that expresses a storybook quality with a cinematic push. Depth is secure without distortion. Perhaps the only quibble worth noting is some mild banding with vistas and studio logos, which is barely noticeable.

Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix captures the intricate world of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" with celebratory precision. Voices are a particular delight, with subtle emotional speeds and comedic rhythms preserved with texture, allowing the listener to pick up on idiosyncrasies and animal instinct with ideal crispness. Vocal balance is maintained throughout, managing group interaction without clutter, while scoring cues sound fresh and appealing (instrumentation is clear), comfortable as background support until called in to carry the moment. Atmospherics are cheerfully identifiable, adding layers to the screen world. Surrounds are engaged for subterranean activities, hosting the occasional disaster, while soundtrack cuts manage the most immersion, with a fertile quality that brings the tunes to life. Low-end registers tastefully.

Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Wes Anderson was recorded in 2013, with the filmmaker admitting he hasn't seen the effort "in a few years." Anderson's memory is remarkably fresh for this conversation which covers the basics in terms of animation labor, stylistic choices, performances, and influences, including a revelation that a piece of the movie was inspired by "Magnum P.I."

• "Introduction" (1:12, HD) presents stop-motion character Petey (Jarvis Cocker), who welcomes viewers to the world of "Fantastic Mr. Fox," setting up the opening of the story.

• Animatic (75:09, HD) displays the entire film via animated storyboards and recorded dialogue.

• "The Making of 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'" (31:58, HD) is a seven-part exploration of production highlights, covering sound recording (revealing Karen Duffy to be the on-set voice of Mrs. Fox), puppet tests and early animation, references for art department, a visit to the studio, time-lapse photography, music, and miniature objects. Although the featurettes run short, the BTS information shared is remarkable to watch, exposing the working parts of a complicated production. The best section covers performances, observing a few of the actors take to the great outdoors to capture personalities and action, while others feel around intimate studio space to become their specific animal. It's a treat to see. There is no Play All function available.

• "Roald Dahl Reads 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'" (53:23) is an audio recording of the author performing his book with terrific enthusiasm.

• Awards Speeches (3:06, HD) showcase fresh animation created to celebrate nominations and wins at the Nation Board of Review and the Academy Awards.

• Set Photography by Ray Lewis supplies 50 pictures that highlight creative achievements and production playfulness.

• Publicity Featurettes (31:45, HD) serves up six mini-docs that celebrate the construction of "Fantastic Mr. Fox," with emphasis on day-to-day labor and the connection to the original Dahl book. Interviews with cast and crew are provided to sell the enormity of production, while special time is reserved for Bill Murray, who pays a visit to animation house to meet his character and admire the wealth of detail and craftsmanship employed during the shoot.

• Sony Robots Commercial (1:01, HD) isn't explained, but it appears to contain stop-motion animation from the same production team that worked on "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

• Discussion and Analysis (11:27, HD) spotlights kids Jake Ryan and Jeremy Logan, who attempt to deconstruct the "awesomeness" of the movie, also exploring themes and moral questions along the way. In terms of supplementary ingenuity, this is not Criterion's finest hour.

• "Fantastic Mr. Dahl" (61:26, HD) travels to England for this television special, celebrating the opening of the Roald Dahl Museum with an honest look back at his literary achievements and lasting legacy in the heart and minds of readers. Interviews with family members and admirers work to illustrate Dahl's life and loves. Conversations with Dahl are also included, collected from various talk show appearances.

• "Witch's Tree" (1:43, SD) is a short clip of Dahl sitting in greenery discussing the influences that informed "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

• Dahl's Manuscripts display 18 pages from an early draft of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and correspondence between the author and editor Fabio Coen at Alfred A. Knopf.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If "Fantastic" wasn't such a graciously hilarious picture, didn't highlight superb actors embracing their animal instincts with undiluted charm, and failed to execute its cleverness in an endearingly loopy fashion, there would still be this monumental, brilliantly raw animated effort to examine intensely and gleefully. Thankfully, Wes Anderson has prepared the full course cinematic meal with "Fantastic Mr. Fox," confidently shaping his latest triumph of creative agility and complex design, sacrificing nothing in the transition to the animated realm.