The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales

From the makers of the utterly endearing comedy-drama Ernest & Celestine comes another delightful French-animated movie. Directed by Benjamin Renner and Patrick Imbert, the comedic movie may not be as heart-warming or as profound as Ernest & Celestine, but I walked away charmed and happier than I had before I sat down.
The anthology film centres around farm animals who struggle to fulfil their roles. In the first story, an inept stork leaves a baby in the hands of a pig, duck and a rabbit (who is arguably even more inept than the stork) to deliver safely. Hi-jinks ensue.
The second story is about a fox who tries to be cruel to fulfil his traditional role, but he eventually accepts that he is kind and nurturing after he plays daddy to the baby chicks he was supposed to eat. In the final segment, the farm animals believe that they have accidently killed Father Christmas and they try terribly hard to somehow replace him.
The style of animation may seem simple, but it is well animated and appealing. The entire thing oozes with charm and nostalgic children’s book appeal. While it is not quite as moving as its predecessor, it does have its moments and those moments work very well.
It touches upon portrayals of unconventional family dynamics and how we might not belong in the roles society tries to push us into. It is highly recommended for young children and anybody who enjoys a bit of light-hearted comedy from time-to-time.
The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales so far has a positive reception; a 7.4 on IMDB, a 100% on Rotten Tomato’s Tomatometer and an Audience Score of 91%. You can catch it from Friday, 3rd August 2018 (English-language version) in the UK.
> Charlotte Lenihan