I’m not sure that Roald Dahl had Danny Ocean in mind when he wrote “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”, but then, he didn’t know George Clooney would be in the feature film created by Wes Anderson. All the elements of this film version of Dahl’s classic children’s book are very well crafted but it’s George Clooney’s voice and persona that gives it spark and ties it all together.

Clooney’s Mr. Fox is a lot like Danny Ocean, of the “Ocean’s Eleven” movie series in that he is the leader of the pack on a mission to pull a caper. But instead of Casinos, Mr. Fox is obsessed with getting the best of three farmers, fat Bogis, squat Bunce, and skinny Bean. They are powerful, unattractive, greedy and no fans of Mr. Fox and his animal friends.

There is something compelling about watching animated characters speak with human voices as opposed to cartoon voices. And the voices are compelling; Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Wally Wolodarsky, Willem DeFoe, Michael Gambone and Eric Anderson along with Mr. Clooney.

The acting is serious as are the relationships between the characters. Along with foiling the farmers, Mr. Fox has some issues, such as his relationship with his son and an apparent favoritism toward his nephew Kristofferson. Then there’s the fact that he sneaks out at night to pouch chickens when he promised his wife long ago that he’d give it up.

Of course his sneaky behavior brings down the wrath of Bogis, Bunce and Bean endangering all the animals in the neighborhood and forcing a mea copa with his wife played by Meryl Streep. It’s at this juncture that we understand the overarching meaning of the story, which is about and human nature. Yes, we’re looking at animals, but they behave and relate like humans. Mr. Fox explains to his wife that while he knows he promised to quit the chicken raiding business, he is after all a fox.

And while the other animals are angry about the situation he’s created, (the farmers are out to destroy their habitat and get rid of Mr. Fox and his furry friends) his wife supports him. He enlists the talents of his posse of animal friends by acknowledging the natural strengths of their species. The mole can see in the dark, the rabbit can run fast, the Badger played by Bill Murray (Mr. Fox’s lawyer) explosives. (Explosives?)

Without giving you too much information, Mr. Fox deals with his family issues, his fear of wolves and the likes of Bogis, Bunce and Bean.

I haven’t thought much about directing in animated films but this one shows characters with close-ups and reactions that one would see in a normal movie. Theirs an attractive timing to the dialogue and music gives the movie a charming mood and carries the story along nicely.

I suspect young kids will enjoy the movie but the characters nuanced (I’m comfortable with that word) performances and the sophisticated humor will be appreciated best by adults young and old.

Director Wes Anderson has created a well-crafted film that tells a story with a lot of heart and humor. It has elements of quirkiness that he is so well know for in his past works such as “Rushmore”, “The Royal Tenenbaums”, the “Darjeeling Limited” and “Bottle Rocket”. There are literally hundreds of jokes throughout the story delivered by characters whose personalities make them funny unlike TV sitcoms.