George Clooney lives up to the title billing in this stop-motion version of Roald Dahl's 1970 novel. It's directed by Wes Anderson of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic and his fans can expect plenty of his trademark quirkiness. It's been a labour of love for Anderson, firstly persuading the Dahl family to give him the rights and then ensconcing himself in their home to write the screenplay.
And it's all worked out rather pleasingly. Anderson has crafted a likeable and enjoyable film with a very high gag rate: it's not going to leave you doubled up in the aisles but it's certainly consistently funny, and full of visual flair.
As the titular Fox, living in the anonymous Midwest countryside, Clooney is quip-a-minute. He's always got a plan, a ruse and a scheme, usually revolving around stealing from his dastardly neighbours (the three farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean), to the distraction of his long-suffering wife and son (voiced by Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzmann). Even though he has finally settled down in a new house under a tree and devoted himself to life as a local columnist, Fox just can't resist one last heist.
The trouble is that the farmers have had it up to the top of their cornfields with him and decide to wage all-out war on the extended Fox family (including Bill Murray's feisty Badger lawyer). Thus we have an extended cat and mouse - or rather farmer and fox - stakeout as each party tries to outwit the other.
Younger viewers may find it all passes them by in a bit of a blur: Dahl's underlying message about the reality of rural life is left intact and will appeal to slightly older audiences and above. Anderson at times stretches himself (a familiar trait) but at 87 minutes this is a compact and successful screen adaptation.
Paul Hurley
