Pony: The Quirky Fantastic
1.16.2010
I recently saw the movie "The Fantastic Mister Fox", and it kind of cemented something for me - a behavioural fad that's reached its critical mass.
Sometimes it feels like there's a cult of self-aware, deeply quirky, mildly misanthropic, and unapologetically narcissistic personalities out there. And they've been blossoming since The Royal Tennenbaums came out, though I'm not sure if I can trace it to that particular movie.
Maybe it was the Big Lebowski, but the Dude was more big-hearted than all that.
But there was a moment when suddenly there was a ringing endorsement, a hidden applause button for a type of selfishness/self-obsessiveness. Like you could be a bit of a dick, and all kinds of inappropriate, but that was ok because you'd been minted an original.
Wonder if I'll glad when this fad goes back into the pages of a Wes Anderson script. I do have a soft spot for this type.
You should see The Fantastic Mister Fox. It's quite enjoyable.
