As a lifelong fan of Wallace and Gromit, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that their latest adventure, “Vengeance Most Fowl,” has left me absolutely smitten! Ever since I first laid eyes on those charming clay characters back in the ’90s, I’ve been captivated by their whimsical world and infectious humor.
In my gaming world, it’s no stretch to say that old Wallace, the quirky inventor from Nick Park’s Oscar-winning animations, always seems to have a solution for everything. His humble abode on Wallaby Street, shared with his clever canine companion Gromit, is jam-packed with Rube Goldberg-style contraptions that would put any gadget geek like me to shame.
One device, acting as an alarm, abruptly wakes Wallace up and guides him into a passageway towards a comfortably heated bathtub. Another invention helps dress the inventor, presenting him with different options for his favorite sweater vest and brown trouser ensemble. A third apparatus spreads jam onto slices of bread, while another appliance gently pets the family pet.
Despite these tools being useful for Wallace, they don’t quite satisfy his relentless drive for optimization, which matches the zeal of the most dedicated Silicon Valley tech enthusiasts. In the beginning of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, the inventor, aiming to demonstrate technology’s advantages to Gromit, designs a robotic garden gnome to assist the reserved dog. The unexpected outcomes are beautifully portrayed by directors Park and Merlin Crossingham.
Making its premiere at AFI Fest before airing on Netflix in January, “Vengeance Most Fowl” continues the intricate claymation style and comedic slapstick that have made Wallace and Gromit iconic. This dynamic duo made history when their 2005 big-screen debut, “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit“, became the first stop-motion animated film to win best animated feature at the Academy Awards. Although the style is more commercially appealing today (as evidenced by recent Oscar nominations for heartwarming “Marcel the Shell with the Shoes On” and Guillermo del Toro’s dark reimagining of “Pinocchio” ), it wasn’t always so fashionable. The “Wallace & Gromit” series, developed by Park in the late ’80s, holds a unique position as both a reminder of the craft’s past and a testament to its continuing relevance and future potential.
It’s unfortunate that the film “Vengeance Most Fowl” is only receiving a limited theatrical release. The duo’s second feature boasts a larger scope, which would have been enhanced by the grandeur of a cinema screen. With their cheerful expressions and expressive eyebrows, Wallace and Gromit are portrayed more intricately by Aardman Animation (as seen in “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”). The fluidity of their movements, along with the richness of textures, showcases the evolution of stop-motion animation technology. For instance, Wallace’s clothes are now made of real yarn instead of clay, and Gromit’s ears, though still crafted from the familiar Plasticine, seem more refined.
Apart from other adjustments, some anticipated while others not so much, there have been changes made. Notably, Ben Whitehead now voices Wallace, taking over the role following Peter Sallis’ passing in 2017. Unlike his predecessor, Whitehead gives Wallace a stronger and less mumbling persona, although he still manages to get himself and Gromit into some peculiar predicaments. When sitting down for breakfast and commenting on his “excellent” toast, the shift is subtle but discernible. A more prominent alteration can be seen in the humor, with some jokes being less suggestive and tailored more towards a younger audience’s sense of humor.
Mark Burton’s script signals the comeback of one Feathers McGraw, an age-old adversary of the dynamic duo Wallace and Gromit. Audiences familiar with this pair (and as “Vengeance Most Fowl” clearly illustrates) recall that this cunning penguin debuted in the 1993 short film “The Wrong Trousers“, where he attempted to pilfer a valuable blue diamond using Wallace’s latest gadget, only to be thwarted by Gromit and subsequently jailed at a local zoo. True to form for any villain, Feathers McGraw has been hatching plans for retaliation against the resourceful inventor and his devoted dog ever since.
As McGraw remains incarcerated, Wallace enthusiastically discusses his new creation, Norbot – a smart gnome designed to aid Gromit in the garden. However, the dog, who prefers the manual task of pruning his own hedges, finds Norbot’s focus on efficiency rather unsettling. This could symbolize our need for caution when it comes to unchecked technological progression.
In my neighborhood, Norbot – voiced by Reece Shearsmith – surprisingly becomes the talk of the town, and it’s Wallace who finds himself inspired. Swamped by a mountain of unpaid bills, he sees an opportunity to start a fresh venture. This transforms him into a local legend, earning him a coveted interview with news anchor Onya Doorstep (Diane Morgan).
Until, that is, McGraw interferes. The silent villain cleverly tampers with Norbot to turn it against Wallace and Gromit. The robot then duplicates himself and goes on a burglary spree throughout the community, prompting Chief Inspector Mackintosh (Peter Kay) and his new lieutenant P.C. Mukherjee (Lauren Patel) to get involved.
An exhilarating escapade unfolds, intensified by the tense music composed by Lorne Balfe and Julian Nott, as the police scrutinize Wallace, while Gromit works diligently to clear his name.
In a swift 79-minute span, the movie titled “Vengeance Most Fowl” delivers an engaging and speedy adventure. Gromit once again demonstrates his exceptional acting skills, while Wallace’s clumsy antics continue to charm viewers. A variety of side characters, including nosy neighbors, reporters, and the police, not only amplify the humor but also provide some sharp wit and social satire.
The subjects encompass suburban obsession with uniformity, unpredictability in the media, and the carelessness, and overall lethargy of law enforcement. Even if the narrative, similar to the first “Wallace & Gromit” movie, follows a predictable pattern, it doesn’t diminish the pleasure of the voyage.
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2024-10-28 01:55