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Shalimar Sahota: The lack of 3D? The ancient art of stop-frame? The sight of a fox and a badger wearing a tie? I'm hoping this has some staying power, because it's a great film; however, while I'm sure children would like it, it felt like it was tailor made more for adults, and they would probably enjoy it a lot more.

Michael Lynderey: The bottom line is really that Wes Anderson makes quirky comedies for grown-ups - that's exactly what he did here, it showed, and Fox was left as a well-reviewed film with no audience. Mr. Fox looked way too weird for kids, and there was no way adults would turn out for a stop-motion animation like they did for Where the Wild Things Are - the nostalgia factor didn't come into play. In fact, as soon as I saw the trailer, I knew it didn't have a chance; Mr. Fox dabbling in existentialism? That's a big no-no for a children's movie trailer (although this is the rare case where the trailer is weirder than the movie itself), and the voice cast certainly isn't going to win over any kids. Think about it this way: if you're eight years-old and you could pick between seeing either Mr. Fox's vaguely creepy-looking stop-motion face or the silly-looking slapstick of Old Dogs, what would your choice be? Heck, I know which one I'd go see, and I'm 23!

Jim Van Nest: If I didn't have this sweet corner office here at BOP headquarters, I may never have heard of this film. And I KNOW my kids haven't. Kinda hard to get families to the theaters to see your movie when none of them know you have a movie. Also, there's a ton of family stuff out their right now and I just don't think the stop-motion animation can compete with computer generated aliens and Robin Williams getting hit in the peas.

Jason Lee: Let's see, you have Wes Anderson who's never a big box office draw, and you have stop-animation, which is never a big box office draw (Coraline aside). This movie will be a big hit on DVD after it gets its Best Animated Film nomination at the Oscars.

Reagen Sulewski: Hell, this is already more successful than half of Anderson's films. But taking a forgotten Roald Dahl story and filming it with outdated styles and turning it into Bottle Rocket (not a criticism, mind) is not the stuff that boffo box office is made of. I think all of us Anderson fans will agree to forget about it.

Kim Hollis: I think not, Reagen. It's a terrific film, though I readily admit it's not a kids' movie (nor am I sure it was truly marketed as such) and the audience becomes more limited by the fact that it's animated in the first place. The more alienating format of stop-motion makes it that much more difficult to sell. With that said, it is an absolutely gorgeously done film with bright colors and lively characters (anyone who complained about the dead eyes in A Christmas Carol should take a look at the tender love and care that went into the eyes of the animals in Mr. Fox's world). It's wonderful stuff and a shame that it's going to be seen by so few.

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