Week 48 in my Criterion a Week Project: Spine #700

Possibly the Wes Andersony movie Wes Anderson ever directed, which is weird because he only co-directed it.

(Upon reflection, it makes sense that Henry Selick would turn down his own unique style and play up the more tangible, surface elements of Anderson's style in order to do his buddy a solid and make sure it fits with Anderson's canon. Just funny, is all).

But yeah. This is damn good. While it's not my favorite Anderson (it doesn't go for the emotional gut punch enough for me to truly love it), I get why it's so many people's favorites. It's effortlessly charming and quotable and hysterical and just good clean fun for the whole family. And that's real.