The tenth film I've chosen to spotlight is 2009's FANTASTIC MR. FOX directed by indie sensation Wes Anderson. This film is one of the best animated films I've ever seen because I like to keep things positive around here.
I've always had a soft spot for Wes Anderson as a filmmaker and screenwriter. His aesthetic is one I've found appealing and fresh no matter how many times I view his films. For some reason, his strong aesthetics only improve with this film. The monochromatic color palette and homegrown feel significantly add charm to the film.
The film features some of the strongest voice acting committed to an animated feature. George Clooney gives Mr. Fox a debonair charm, Meryl Streep plays his wife in a deliciously deadpan way, and Jason Schwartzman's performance as Ash is hilarious and hurt, a young fox whose pride is constantly under siege.
Anderson is already a tremendously creative filmmaker, but this film's zany details are beyond what he usually does. The hilarity of this film is found in the tiniest of ongoing gags, some visual and others not. The film never looks down on its audience and leaves for them a treasure of laughs hidden on every wall and every two or three fox-minutes.
This game looks complicated.
For a children's film, Fantastic Mr. Fox is tremendously mature and deals with adult issues. It has a serene beauty and at times a tragic air. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have a complex relationship and one that is very human. They never forget what they are at heart when things get rough: wild animals. Despite their best intentions to be civilized, their very nature is to be wild.
They are not as wild as some. The wolf is a symbol of both fear and respect. They shudder at his mention, but are quick to revere him. The wolf has not evolved to the point of these "civilized animals," but they view him as compatriot. 
Things eventually work out for the best and who knows if they'll stay that way. The film ends on a soaring high note. It's quirky and undeniably sophisticated, but it's got a big beating heart. I enthusiastically recommend this film.
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