I'm excited that Wes Anderson has a new film coming out, Moonrise Kingdom. From what I've read and seen so far it has all the sensibilities of an Anderson flm and I don't think his fans will be disappointed. Much as summer blockbusters tend to be critic-proof, I think this film will be critic-proof for the Anderson fanbase.
I recall when screening Fantastic Mr. Fox a couple years ago, I noticed this film seemed to have hit the beloved 18-34 male audience squarely on the nose. I would say half the audience fell into this group. Although I don't think this film was in any way marketed to children, despite being animated with talking animals and based on a Roald Dahl book, there were a few kids present. Like many of Wes Anderson's films, themes of childhood are present but his films are for the most part not "for" children. Anyway, this movie was fantastic wacky fun and included story, music and visuals in a perfect trifecta that Anderson is so good at. I'm not saying you have to be a Wes Anderson fan, but I think viewers do need a certain openmindedness to something out of the ordinary or quirky.
In his earlier days, Mr. Fox (George Clooney) was wild and reckless, stealing chickens whenever he wanted. When she reveals a cub is on the way, Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) makes him promise to give up his life of crime, which he promises.
Flash forward to the present, where Fox, now feeling his age, wants to live above ground instead of in a dark cave. He buys a home in a tree, which overlooks the farms of three of the meanest farmers around: Bunce who is a chicken farmer, Boggis who has a smokehouse with duck and geese, and Bean (Michael Gambon), the meanest of all, who makes hard cider. It is too tempting for Fox so he plans a three-night heist with Kylie the possum where he will infiltrate each farm in turn. When the farmers discover the theft, they locate Fox and attempt to smoke him out in various ways, each method escalating in grandiosity.
Meanwhile, Fox's son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman), is having a sort of Napoleon complex, not measuring up to his dad's reputation, nor the popularity/athleticism of his visiting cousin Kristofferson (Eric Anderson). Eventually of course, Fox outsmarts the farmers with the help of family and friends, and Ash rises to the occasion as well. Supporting cast includes Willem Dafoe as a rat guarding the cider, Bill Murray as a badger lawyer, Owen Wilson as the coach of Whack Bat, a cricket-like game that Kristofferson is really good at.
The film like I said is wacky, you can't believe the things these animals say and do sometimes. The animation of the characters is pretty cool, despite having a retro looking style they move well, and the film is infused with trademark Anderson: songs and music that fit the mood and scene, very detailed sets, a few chase scenes, adults who act immaturely, especially a father figure who is a lovable rascal. Clooney did an okay voiceover job, but I thought Streep was the one that went more out of the box with her portrayal. It was actually a little difficult to distinguish her voice as her own as she gave Mrs. Fox a motherly sweetness. Schwartzman was good in portraying a petulance and frustration, Gambon made a good bad guy, and even Dafoe had a little fun with the inflections of the rat's dialog. I really enjoyed this film, and wouldn't mind repeat viewings just to see all the detail Anderson put into the design.
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