WHAT’S IT ABOUT
Gromit’s concern that Wallace has become over-dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a smart gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Wallace & Gromit are finally back on screen after taking a long break since 2008’s A Matter of Loaf and Death. Their new adventure, Vengeance Most Fowl, brings back one of their most memorable villains – the crafty penguin Feathers McGraw – who’s been cooling his heels in the local zoo after his failed diamond heist scheme. For fans who remember their only other feature film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (which nabbed an Oscar for best animated feature back in 2005), this new movie delivers the same kind of entertainment they’ve come to expect from the clay-animated duo. The story kicks off with some trouble at home. Gromit, despite being unable to speak, has been bottling up some serious feelings about his buddy Wallace (voiced by Ben Whitehead) becoming way too dependent on his wild inventions. The last straw drops when Wallace unveils his latest creation – Norbot (voiced by Reece Shearsmith), a robot garden gnome that starts taking over all the household chores, including gardening, which happens to be Gromit’s favorite way to spend time. But what starts as simple jealousy over a robotic lawn ornament turns into something much bigger when Feathers McGraw manages to hack into Norbot’s programming, flipping its switch from helpful helper to evil minion. While the plot might sound familiar to those who’ve watched other “technology-goes-wrong” stories, the movie still packs that special Wallace & Gromit magic that makes their adventures stand out. Their signature dry British humor meshes perfectly with the incredible stop-motion animation, creating moments that’ll make both kids and adults laugh out loud. The robot gnomes themselves are a stroke of genius – somehow managing to be both creepy and hilarious at the same time, especially when they start marching through the quaint English village streets in formation. The story really gets rolling when Wallace’s neighbors spot Norbot’s handiwork and start offering money for the robot to help with their own household tasks. This creates the perfect opening for Feathers to launch his revenge plan. Using his surprisingly tech-savvy penguin skills, he breaks into the police computer system and reprograms Norbot’s core settings from “Good” to “Evil” – a bit convenient, sure, but it sets up some great comedy. Before long, there’s an entire army of evil gnome-robots working together to break their penguin mastermind out of prison. The voice cast brings their A-game, with Peter Kay delivering a solid performance as Chief Inspector Mackintosh, who’s just about ready to retire (always a dangerous career move in any movie). Lauren Patel brings fresh energy as Officer Mukherjee, an ambitious young police constable who gets caught up in the chaos. The real scene-stealer, though, is still Feathers McGraw, who manages to be hilarious without saying a word – especially when he’s wearing his trademark disguise of a rubber glove on his head to look like a chicken. Directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham know exactly when to crank up the action, particularly in the movie’s second half. Everything builds up to an absolutely bonkers third act featuring a Mission: Impossible-style chase sequence that’s both thrilling and hysterical. While the 79-minute runtime might feel a bit short, and the story does take its time getting started, the wait is worth it for the madcap action that follows. At its heart, this new Wallace & Gromit adventure stays true to what made the franchise special – charming British humor, clever visual gags, and stunning stop-motion animation – while adding some gentle commentary about our growing reliance on technology. It’s a perfect mix of old-school charm and modern themes that works whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their world of crazy inventions and even crazier adventures.
OUR RATING – A STOP-MOTION 8.5