FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009)

The beauty of Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox is that it both pays homage to AND also revitalizes the art of stop-motion animation many of us grew up loving.  George Clooney voices the intelligent, urbane, sly Mr. Fox, who promises to give up his poultry-stealing ways and settle down upon learning his wife (Meryl Streep) is pregnant.  Flash forward years later, Mr. Fox working as a newspaper columnist to support his wife and pre-teen son when he relocates the family from their underground dwelling to a beautiful tree above-ground ... right in line of sight of Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three of the meanest poultry farmers alive.  Finding himself reverting to his thieving ways, when Mr. Fox goes too far and the farmers retaliate - putting Mr. Fox, his family, and all their animal community in peril - it's Fox who must use all his wiles to save the day.  Based on the children's novel by Roald Dahl, the film captures Dahl's style, characters and mood down to the most minute detail.  Quirky, funny, lovable film. (rated PG)  ****

FANTASTIC MR. FOX trailer