Bring the Family to Fantastic Mr. Fox

By Guest Writer Betsy Bishop 

This November we’re excited to be screening Wes Anderson’s stop-motion comedy Fantastic Mr. Fox. As the film is based on Roald Dahl‘s classic book, we were happy to have Betsy Bishop, a librarian with our JBFC Kids Community Partner Westchester Library System, write this guest post for us.

Need something to talk about at that all important family dinner? Read Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, then see the movie at the Jacob Burns Film Center.

Step one, curl up on the couch together to read the book aloud. (Doesn’t matter how old your kids are, they still love being read to!) You will love Roald Dahl’s delicious language:

Boggis and Bunce and Bean

One fat, one short, one lean

These horrible crooks

So different in looks

Were nonetheless equally mean

The dastardly farmers have Mr. Fox surrounded! But they’re not dealing with just any fox. Only the most fantastic plan can save him now! Kids of all ages will enjoy the story as well as the delightful illustrations by Quentin Blake.

Once you’ve read the book together, see the movie together at a special Jacob Burns Film Center screening. The movie adds an entirely new subplot – a move to a new house that creates drama between the fox children and a visiting cousin. But the thrill of the chase and the climax remain the same.  Ask your kids what did the movie makers change and why? What would your kids have done differently? Which was “better,” the book or the movie? Make sure everyone gets a chance to give his or her opinion.

And most important, which did they like better: sitting on the couch with you while you read or fresh popcorn at the Jacob Burns? Tough call.

Fantastic Mr. Fox screens at the Buns on November, 19 and 20, with JBFC Kids activities accompanying the Saturday screening. Tickets are on sale here.