Fantastic Mr Fox

Quirky comedy director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) channels the darkly comic genius of Roald Dahl for this animated version of one of the author's best-loved children's stories. In his first full-length animation, Anderson opts for an unorthodox retro style that has old-fashioned stop-motion effects taking the place of modern CGI and lovingly echoes Dahl's own home in the small detail (including the armchair in his writing hut). Although rather too American for a character living in the British countryside, George Clooney does a stand-up job as the voice of Mr Fox, who promises his wife that he'll mend his wily chicken-thieving ways, only for temptation to get the better of him. There's sterling voice work from Michael Gambon as one of Mr Fox's farmer adversaries, and Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson provide strong support. Sadly, the female characters (especially Meryl Streep's Mrs Fox) are given little to do but, that aside, this is an idiosyncratically endearing take on the tale.