Fantastic Mr. Fox

Careful all those who enter here. Expect words such as 'kooky' and 'quirky' to be bandied about with gusto for this is a Wes Anderson movie. And that should be all you need to know. There is, of course, a dysfunctional family at this film's wild heart and the search for one's 'inner gift'. "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Life Aquatic" director has smeared himself all over this one. It's his movie more than a playful adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic. And that's no bad thing.

For starters, Dahl's rather slight story has been bulked up for the screen. Our Mr. Fox (fantastically voiced by George Clooney), master chicken thief and underground celebrity (literally), has far worse to contend with than just the trio of tyrants that are Boggis, Bunce and Bean - he's got a family! Torn between being the responsible bread-winner and giving into his more reckless, animal side, Mr. Fox succumbs to nature's call. Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) is none too happy, especially when the irate farmers come knocking (and digging and blasting) and Ash (Jason Schwartzman), Mr. Fox's precocious son, is finding the going tough when superstar nephew Kristofferson comes to stay - further accentuating his sheer lack of athleticism. Waging war on one front and holding the fort on another, Mr. Fox is forced to live up to his moniker to succeed in both.

Things have evolved somewhat when it comes to Dahl's tale of fox-like derring-do, but it's how the story is told that takes on a more retro feel akin to the original. The wire-frame, stop-motion antics are a wonder to behold and things would not be out of place if Bagpuss suddenly wandered on to the set. But that's the charm. In a Pixar-dominated market "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is a breath of fresh air - its lo-fi quirks (there's that word again) all the keener for it.

Anderson's dream-like adaptation is a crowd-pleaser in budget clothing. Big kids (in the 25-40 bracket) will rejoice at every wink and every nudge but the younger ones may be left a little nonplussed by the whole thing. Meanwhile the Dahl purists may cry fowl (sorry) but Anderson's take is a welcome one featuring a wealth of great turns from the likes of Bill Murray as Badger (Mr. Fox's long-suffering lawyer) and Willem Dafoe as the cuss-spewing Rat.

This one's for the big kids in all of us.