As a lifelong cinema enthusiast who’s seen his fair share of animation masterpieces, I can confidently say that Nick Park and Aardman Animations have once again outdone themselves with “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.” This film is a delightful blend of humor, technology skewering, and timeless stop-motion charm that will leave audiences in stitches.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can confidently say that Nick Park and the brilliant team at Aardman Animations have outdone themselves once more with their latest Wallace & Gromit masterpiece, “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”. This stop-motion, claymation gem is a testament to their Academy Award-winning prowess and will leave audiences in stitches as they revisit an old nemesis and his wickedly amusing revenge scheme.
Technology Fixes Everything, Until It Doesn’t
62 West Wallaby Street welcomes another lovely morning. Loyal dog Gromit rises from bed and sets off the series of devices created by inventive Wallace to streamline his daily routine. Since Peter Sallis’ departure, Wallace is now voiced by Ben Whitehead. Without lifting a finger, Wallace experiences a shower, tooth brushing, dressing, and breakfast of toast and tea, all while a conveyor belt-like system delivers marmalade-coated slices to his mouth.
Gromit appears disinterested in such extravagant trifles. A dog, though, is content with his faithful dish filled with crunchy kibble before sorting through a pile of mail. Gromit’s eyebrows crease with worry over the mountain of bills and past due notices. Wallace reassures his faithful friend by saying he has invented something innovative that will alleviate their financial woes and simplify their already laid-back lifestyle: Norbot.
Gromit watches with alarm as Norbot, a robotic garden gnome with a spooky attitude, tidies up the garden by trimming hedges and beheading begonias, all while humming “No task is too insignificant!” The neighbors applaud in admiration. They are eager to employ Norbot. Word of his brilliance spreads quickly. Wallace receives recognition on local news for his clever handyman gnome. However, an age-old foe, locked up at the zoo, sees a chance for revenge against the inventor and his faithful canine companion.
The Return of Feathers McGraw
The film “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” deserves immense praise as it excels in every department, offering masterful entertainment. Let’s first discuss the exceptional screenplay. Mark Burton, who has previously written films like “Madagascar,” “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” and “Shaun the Sheep: The Movie,” humorously critiques our obsession with technology as a solution for every problem. In this story, Wallace, under the mistaken belief that automation is the path to happiness, neglects the charm of simple pleasures. He becomes so enamored with gadgets that he forgets the joy in petting Gromit and prefers machines to tap his head instead.
The rub is that the dutiful Norbot can be hacked, just like your cell phone, computer, vacuum, and bank accounts. Everything that was previously easy and taken for granted becomes a nightmare when no longer accessible. Wallace’s diminutive robot transforms into a formidable adversary when reprogrammed with Feathers McGraw’s malicious intentions. Norbot isn’t mowing people down like the Terminator, but shows the realistic dark side of humans (and dogs, of course) losing control of artificial intelligence. Chaos ensues, and it’s not nearly as simple to get the rabbit back into the hat. Raise your expectations for Norbot’s misdeeds.
Gnome Your Enemy
In a daring leap forward, park director Merlin Crossingham, an experienced animator from the famous “Wallace & Gromit” series, amplifies the spectacle with stunning set pieces. Feathers McGraw skillfully manipulates puppets, his Norbot tentacles weaving through charming Lancashire landscapes. The ever-resourceful Gromit, always the hero, employs his old-fashioned intelligence and guile to free himself from McGraw’s penguin grip. This journey is filled with near misses, nerve-wracking escapes, and thrilling gnome pursuits that would make the “Fast & Furious” envious. Remarkably, Park and Crossingham prioritize their outstanding visuals, ensuring they complement rather than overshadow the story and its underlying themes. The animation’s brilliance consistently serves the narrative above all else.
Animals may be clever, but they don’t verbally interact with us clumsy humans. Characters like Gromit and Feathers McGraw are mute, much like the silent comedy legends such as Charlie Chaplin or Tom and Jerry. Their humor relies solely on physical actions rather than words, making it challenging yet powerful in its effect. Interestingly, Feathers McGraw doesn’t even have a mouth; instead, he expresses everything by squinting his beady eyes, causing fear in every other character and resulting in some of the most memorable moments of laughter through silence.
The movie “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” maintains a flawless tempo throughout its 80-minute runtime. From the very first scene, you’re hooked, chuckling like an amused hyena all the way, and before you know it, the credits start rolling because you’ve been laughing so much you almost needed to go to the bathroom. Well done to Park and Crossingham for avoiding any unnecessary fluff, providing a thrilling, non-stop adventure that will surely captivate both longtime fans and new viewers.
“Wallace & Gromit: Revenge of the Feathered Fiend” hails from Aardman Animations. This charming adventure graces the big screen first on October 27th at the AFI film festival, before making its exclusive debut on Netflix streaming platforms on January 3rd, 2025.
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2024-10-28 21:31