parley78’s review published on Letterboxd:
I actually watched this a couple days ago but I never logged it because I was on a road trip so uh. Yeah. Here we go.
Very rarely do I find a film that has ZERO flaws. Seriously. I have a hard time trying to find something wrong with this movie. Even while trying to think of one.
"I'm a wild animal."
Mr. Fox is not always a particularly likable character, but he is always a relatable one. He makes mistakes. Big ones. But he still loves his family and friends more than anything. He is obsessed with leaving his mark and doing something big with his life. And honestly, I think that makes a lot of sense. It's ridiculously relatable for me. Seeing him want to be able to be like his father but even bigger and better is a character goal that is very, for lack of saying relatable again, engaging.
"In the end, we all die. Unless you change."
Throughout the film we can see the changes Mr. Fox goes through. In a very good scene set in front of a waterfall or something, I dunno. If you know, you know. Anyway, in this scene you can see him sort of put that goal on the backburner. He doesn't drop it, he's still loyal to himself and his own goals, but he gives it up for a little bit to take care of his family because isn't that another goal as a result of him wanting to be his father? His father isn't brought up a lot, in fact it might even only be one line, but I feel like it's such important one. Either that, or i'm pretentious. Or at least more pretentious that I thought.
"We're all different."
There is a decent amount of characters in this film, but they all work so well. This film is hysterical, and most of that is due to the understated, signature, dry as a well in the Gobi Desert, comedy that Wes Anderson excels at. And that's due to how well these characters work in this world and with each other. I want to highlight some of the more minor characters in this wonderful film.
Weasel- Voiced by Wes Anderson himself. The one who sells them the house. Favorite line: "Stop yelling!"
Badger- Voiced by the legend Bill Murray. The one who tries to get Mr. Fox to pass on the house. The cuss he will. Favorite line: "If you're gonna cuss with somebody, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!" But really anything from that scene would work.
Mole- Voiced by James Hamilton. Not a major character at all, but he's got a few good lines. Favorite line: "I'm sick of your double talk! We have rights!"
Badger's Son- Voiced by Jeremy Dawson The bully. He's a bully. Favorite line: "Why's your cousin such a wet sandwich?"
Petey- Voiced by Jarvis Cocker. I mean, he's Petey. What more do I have to say? Favorite line: "Just... just making it up as I went- as I went along, really." Poor Petey.
"You're exaggerating, Badger."
This film's plot is simple, insane, fun, engaging, entertaining, nonsensical, and crazy. Maybe not even the plot so much as everything that goes on. It takes its time to get to know our characters but it doesn't drag for a second. Everything with the heists, and the showdowns, and the WHACKBAT! This movie just throws perfect scene after perfect scene at the wall, and everything sticks. I wouldn't cut a single scene. They all blend together to make one of the most fun viewing experiences you will ever have. Probably. You might not like happiness...
"Like melted gold."
I have a lot of personal attachment to this movie. I remember watching it all the time as a little kid. Me and my dad watched the behind the scenes stuff on YouTube all the time, and one time I was in a hot tub for too long with one of my cousins and we got all pruny and slightly burned, I think. We watched this movie twice, back to back on his mom's laptop that night. I commonly view film as an escape. A way to leave behind all the garbage that this world throws at you. This is exactly that. An escape. A peek into the minds of people that try their best to make your life just a little bit better. And that, too me, is art. To the highest decree.
And as a result of film being my "happy place" so is this app/website/whatever you want to call it. I've made friends, i've seen films I usually wouldn't have (Greener Grass, anyone?), and i've been able to share my thoughts, and see other peoples. So here's to letterboxd! and all the good that comes with it!
*smashes glass*
"Let's eat!"
(silence)
"What? I was just playin' along with the bit he was doing..."
