Fantastic Mr Fox [PG]

It's man versus animal. Three vicious farmers against one very clever fox. Let the game begin.

I initially had no intention to see this film. It seriously looked like one I could live my life without seeing. However, in the movie-rental business it is important to watch films so that you can offer your opinion to customers who ask. So when this movie came in, because it was a family movie and it was one that quite a few parents would want to know about before letting their kids watch it, I decided to take it home and watch it myself first. I'm actually glad that I did.

Mr Fox used to steal poultry as a job, but when his wife fell pregnant he gave it up and began writing a column in a local newspaper. After buying a home in a big tree on top of a hill, Mr Fox decides to perform one final steal. One that will be remembered for years to come. He learns that he is within a comfortable distance of the three most feared and vicious farmers in the valley. Bogus, Bunce, and Bean. Mr Fox decides to steal from these three farmers. But as he goes further on with his master plan, his eyes get too big for his stomach.

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr Fox is a cute little animated family film that can appeal to anyone, adult or child. The animals are pretty much just like humans in this flick. They are sophisticated, wear clothes, watch television, have portable radios, and even drive motorcycles. It's got a clever little script, an interesting soundtrack, and all actions and dialogue is done rather rapidly and jaggedly, which would not work for most films, but for this one it's, well, fantastic.

With the voice talents of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Owen Wilson and Willem Dafoe, Fantastic Mr Fox is a surprising and quirky little animated feature that is clever, funny and appeals to everyone.