Fantastic Mr. Fox

Gr 4 Up-Mr. Fox is the cleverest fox around. In his youth, he was a master chicken thief. When he and his wife are trapped during a chicken heist, she reveals that she is pregnant and demands that Mr. Fox change his ways and stop taking risks. He does as his wife asks, but after several years he finds himself unsatisfied. To provide for his family and relieve his own boredom, Mr. Fox plans a major heist on the three meanest farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Though the caper is successful, it creates a world of problems for Mr. Fox and his neighborhood, as the three farmers relentlessly pursue revenge. Along with the main plot, there are underlying themes of family and friendship, as well as the dark and macabre flavors that can be expected in a movie based on a Roald Dahl story. The stop-motion animation is phenomenal with subtle movement that is clever and seamless, and the characters are brilliantly voiced by actors such as George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray. The overall look is rich in warm, autumnal colors and thoughtful details. Fans of its director, Wes Anderson, will love this special edition, which comes with fantastic (and funny) features, such as an art booklet, an audio recording of Dahl reading the book, and interviews with cast and crew (Fun fact: the Foxes' abode is a miniature set of Dahl's home).-Jenny Ventling, Greene County Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.