Wallace & Gromit review: Another triumph of pure British silliness, fused with pure British genius writes BRIAN VINER
As a lifelong fan of Wallace & Gromit, I can attest that their latest adventure, Vengeance Most Fowl, is a masterpiece that has swept me off my feet! It’s been almost two decades since The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit graced our screens, and this new installment is a testament to the unwavering genius of Nick Park CBE.
It’s been approximately twenty years since the release of the first full-length Wallace & Gromit movie, “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” which came out in 2005.
Hooray! Let’s cheer, shout “Hurrah!” and even do a spin or two if you feel like it… since finally, after a very long wait, here comes the second one! It’s yet another marvelous example of pure British wit mixed with pure British ingenuity.
In today’s world where simply hosting a TV reality show can earn you the title of a national treasure, Nick Park CBE truly embodies this title in an authentic manner. Moreover, with the creation and direction of Vengeance Most Fowl, the mastermind behind Wallace, the clumsy, cheese-obsessed inventor, and his faithful dog Gromit has surpassed his own remarkable achievements.
This movie offers an incredible escape, almost certainly able to rid your mind of worries for about 79 minutes.
An unfailingly modest fellow, Park will doubtless try to re-direct the plaudits towards screenwriter Mark Burton and all the brilliant stop-motion animators at Aardman, the Bristol studio where ‘feet of clay’ does not suggest a character flaw, but a month’s hard work. They have excelled themselves, too.
In the role previously held by Peter Sallis and bearing a striking resemblance to him, Wallace is once again his familiar character, residing on West Wallaby Street with Gromit amidst an array of quirky Heath Robinson-inspired contraptions, designed primarily to rouse him from slumber each day.
He continues to be celebrated as a civic hero after thwarting the evil plan of cunning criminal mastermind (and penguin) Feathers McGraw in the Academy Award-winning short film The Wrong Trousers (1993), where he prevented the theft of a precious diamond.
As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that Feathers, our avian friend, is securely ensconced within the zoo enclosure, exhibiting his natural bird behavior. However, he’s not just content with observing the world; he’s devising a cunning plan to exact revenge on Wallace and swipe the gem once more, using his sly wit to outsmart him.
In due course, Feathers seizes an opportunity to solve two problems at once. Wallace has crafted a robotic garden gnome named Norbot (voiced by Reece Shearsmith), a gardening ‘smart-gnome’. To manage escalating invention costs, this mechanical dwarf is leased out to neighbors, earning popularity as it cruises around in its ‘Gnome Improvements’ van.
However, Feathers possesses a variety of malicious abilities, including computer hacking. He finds a method to transform the always cheerful Norbot into an evil entity.
It’s not surprising to mention that once more, the cunning penguin managed to break free from confinement, this time disguising himself as a chicken by wearing a red rubber glove on his head.
Due to Norbot causing destruction in local gardens all over town, Wallace’s reputation has taken a hit. In fact, he was publicly identified and criticized on television during the Up North News (hosted by ‘Anton Deck’). As a result, when a diamond goes missing, he becomes the prime suspect.
Fortunately for me, the seemingly dim-witted Chief Inspector Mackintosh, whom you may recognize from The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit played by Peter Kay, has a sharp and intelligent partner, PC Mukherjee, portrayed by Lauren Patel. Meanwhile, my trusty companion Gromit steps in to save the day and protect the good name of my unfortunate friend. Putting aside my current reading material, A Room Of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, I prepare myself for whatever adventure lies ahead.
It all culminates in a canal boat chase across the Yorkshire-Lancashire border that is one of the most cherishably funny action sequences I’ve seen in years, comparable with the epic train chase in The Wrong Trousers.
As a passionate Lancastrian myself, I can’t help but express my delight in how “No Parkin'” had me rolling with laughter! For fellow northerners, the humor is undoubtedly relishable. But it doesn’t stop there; this film caters to the cine-savvy as well, with a delightful array of witty references that tickle our collective film buff fancy. From nods to Bond films and The Italian Job, all the way to an amusing echo of The African Queen – it’s a cinematic treasure trove for those in the know!
At times, the ingenuity of Park, and Burton, and that army of animators, takes the breath away.
As an ardent admirer, I must say, Vengeance Most Fowl by Aardman Studios is nothing short of genius! It’s a masterpiece that caters flawlessly to the young spectators who might not grasp Wallace’s clever malapropisms, like “necessity is the mother-in-law of invention.” Yet, it resonates on so many levels with us grown-ups, making it a delightful experience for all ages!
It skillfully blends the contemporary realm of sophisticated computing and multiculturalism with an antique charm, creating a delightful mix that’s both refreshing and inviting!
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will be on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.
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2024-10-28 04:04