Fantastic Mr. Fox & The Human Condition
Synopsis
Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is about Mr. Fox, who used to be a food thief, but after getting news from his wife, Mrs. Fox, that she’s pregnant, promises never to steal again. However, twelve years later, Mr. Fox breaks his promise and raids the farms of Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. This later endangers Mr. Fox’s family and community when the farmers realize he’s stealing their food, which leads to Mr. Fox figuring out how to keep them out of harm’s way and rebuild his community underground.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is an incredibly beautiful film, from its stop motion to the vast audience it reaches. Being the PG film it is, Fantastic Mr. Fox gives younger audiences the ability to enjoy a fun goofy film, while also giving other, older audiences the ability to relate to the emotions the characters are experiencing. I would recommend this film, wholeheartedly, to anyone at all. It’s truly a perfect film for everyone.
Pride, Ego, & Existentialism
Mr. Fox is a character who is full of pride and has a huge ego. These characteristics are based in his belief that he’s a wild animal and that simply isn’t true. Mr. Fox isn’t a wild animal, he’s more human-like, in the way that he waits for his wife every morning to walk with her and how he has a job as a newspaper reporter. His pride in being an animal leads to him causing problems for himself, his friends, and his family. He puts his ego before being a father and husband, forgetting the fact that he’s not a wild animal.
Mr. Fox, at the beginning of the film, questions who he is in terms of existentialism. Questioning why he’s a fox and how he could be happy without being a wild animal or “having a chicken in its teeth”. Wondering how he could ever live if he stopped being a wild animal and lived a normal life.
Different
Ash and Kristofferson are two sides of the same coin and a perfect representation of difference within Fantastic Mr. Fox. Ash has a father who everyone within the town looks to and loves. He wants to live up to his father’s legacy, but no one sees that as a possibility, and treats him differently. Beaver’s son even calls him a “wet sandwich”, and says that he’s too short, dresses like a girl, and is different. The town uses “different” in a derogatory sense, to say that he’s weird. Ash is in denial of his difference and is inflamed with anger because everyone sees him so. He is always being put down by others and never gets praise for who he is.
However, Kristofferson is also different, but seems to be praised and made to feel special from Mr. Fox to Coach Skip, both calling him a natural and both picking Kristofferson over Ash in many situations. This leads to Ash having a subconscious resentment for Kristofferson. This symbolizes how people treat others differently based on their differences; as if all of the differences within people don’t make them their own individuals. The treatment of Ash and Kristofferson as being polar opposites, while they are both quite different from the regular person, is incredibly portrayed.
Phobias
Within Fantastic Mr. Fox there’s a scene where Kylie asks Mr. Fox if he’s afraid of wolves. Mr. Fox replies with how he has a phobia of wolves. Kylie proceeds to say that he has a phobia of thunder, Mr. Fox calls that stupid, adding onto that Ash says he has a phobia of needles. Following this, Mr. Fox sees a wolf and raises his fist with the wolf. This scene symbolizes how Mr. Fox’s phobia of wolves is contradictory with his point of being a wild animal, but after seeing the wolf and their interaction with each other it’s a beautiful portrayal of Mr. Fox’s realization that he isn’t a wild animal.
Acceptance
Ash accepts the fact he’s different from everyone else and embraces that towards the end of the film, even getting a walkman like his father to symbolize that he’s Mr. Fox’s child and he’s just as different as him. While Mr. Fox accepts the fact that he’s not a wild animal, and is, in actuality, a father and husband. This is shown by the fact that both Mr. and Mrs. Fox glows when she tells him that she’s pregnant again.
The Human Condition
I love Wes Anderson’s Mr. Fantastic Fox so much because the portrayal of the human condition is so unique and beautifully put. The unique takes on the perception of difference, pride, ego, existentialism, and acceptance are truly amazing. This leaves us, as the audience, relating to and enjoying the film. Anderson puts the human condition in such an artistically beautiful way that makes it such an amazing film for everyone and anyone to watch. I hope you all watch and love Fantastic Mr. Fox as much as I did.
My Favorite Quotes and Songs in Fantastic Mr. Fox
Quotes:
- “Who am I, Kylie?” – Mr. Fox
“Who how? What now?” – Kylie
“Why a fox? Why not a horse or a beetle or a bald eagle? I’m saying this more like as existentialism, you know? Who am I? And how can a fox ever be happy without a, you’ll forgive the expression, chicken in its teeth?”- Mr. Fox
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it sounds illegal.” – Kylie”
- “I know what it’s like to feel different.” – Mrs. Fox
“I’m not different, am I?” – Ash
“We all are. But there’s something kind of fantastic about that, isn’t there? – Mrs. Fox”
- “I think I have this thing where I need everybody to think I’m the greatest, the “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and if they aren’t completely knocked out, dazzled, and kinda intimidated by me then, I don’t feel good about myself.” – Mr. Fox”
Songs:
- Heroes and Villains by The Beach Boys
- Street Fighting Man by The Rolling Stones
- The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
- Mr. Sandman by The Chordettes
- Let Her Dance by The Bobby Fuller Four
Rating: 10/10
