After watching a BBC documentary on foxes, I had an overwhelming urge to re-watch Wes Anderson’s brilliant adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic story, Fantastic Mr. Fox, a film that I actually hated the first time round but very quickly grew to love and appreciate. Surprisingly, I always seem to forget Anderson whenever I think about my favourite directors but he has an ability to grab my attention from the very first to the last frame, with stunning visuals and faced-paced, choppy storytelling.

And Fantastic Mr. Fox is no different.

After discovering he is going to be a father, Mr. Fox, voiced by George Clooney, agrees to give up his squab stealing, hen house raiding nature and settle down into a safe and sensible family life. In the midst of a mid-life crisis and feeling somewhat unfulfilled and unsatisfied with his life, he purchases a piece of prime real estate with a glorious view across the valley, including the farms of the notorious Boggis, Bunce and Bean.

“Boggis, Bunce and Bean,
One fat, one short, one lean,
These horrible crooks
So different in looks
Are nonetheless equally mean.”

Unable to deny his rebellious, free-spirited nature any longer, Mr. Fox sneaks out for ‘one last raid’ but he underestimates the vengeful nastiness of the farmers and when they retaliate, it is not just his pride at risk but also the homes and families of all the other animals that live in the valley. What follows is a game of wits and the animals must embrace their natural instincts and wild natures in a bid to survive.

The story may have come from the mind of Roald Dahl, one of my most favourite authors growing up, but the delivery is pure Wes Anderson. His snappy and full throttle narrative style brings Dahl’s words, and many childhood memories, to life on the screen. The story balances high energy with quiet moments of calm reflection and realisation.

The time-consuming technicality of stop motion animation is made to look easy but the level and attention to detail is hard to miss. In one moment we see the fine detail, texture and movement in the fur as a breeze passes by and in the next the cartoon staple of a cross in the eyes is used to simulate death. This strange blend of cartoonish realism is captivating and beautiful to watch unravel on screen and is further emphasised by Anderson’s trademark use of colour.

Another typical Anderson talent is his ability to bring together a phenomenal cast, packed full of big names and harmonise the big personalities perfectly. I mean, I’m not sure many other directors could put the likes of Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson and Michael Gambon on the sidelines without overshadowing anyone else.

Not surprisingly, the main weight of the film is carried by the foxes. Meryl Streep brings a stern yet lovingly maternal presence to the screen as Mrs Felicity Fox and Jason Schwartzman delights as Ash, the angsty and insecure young cub keen to prove himself as a great athlete like his father. A spanner in the family dynamic comes in the form of visiting cousin, Kristofferson, whose calm meditative personality is in sharp focus to the chaos around him.

But let’s be honest, it is George Clooney’s deep, clear voice as the titular Fantastic Mr. Fox that is the cherry on the top of a truly fantastic film.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.