If you live in the U.K., chances are you are very familiar with the claymation inventor and his smart and loyal dog, Wallace (Ben Whitehead; The Pirates! Band of Misfits) and Gromit. The brainchild of Nick Park, they first appeared in short films in 1989. Over time, they have become the unofficial international ambassadors for Great Britain as their good nature and kind personalities resonate with people worldwide. It has been said they are "some of the best-known and best-loved stars to come out of the UK." Their movies are critically acclaimed, and they have a large fan base both in and outside the United Kingdom. Their latest, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, will be broadcast in the UK on BBC One on , and opening internationally on Netflix on .
Always looking to create new things, Wallace thought he was doing something nice for Gromit when Wallace created Norbot (Reece Shearsmith; High-Rise), a helpful garden gnome. Unfortunately, Gromit doesn't find Norbot helpful, especially when Feathers McGraw, Wallace and Gromit's penguin arch nemesis, reprograms Norbot to be evil. With an army of Norbots at his disposal, Feathers McGraw breaks out of jail (the local zoo) to claim the blue diamond he had stolen years earlier, only to be foiled by none other than Wallace and Gromit.
Mark Burton (Madagascar) once again has written a terrific screenplay that perfectly captures the essence of Wallace and Gromit. The regular cast of characters are all back, like Chief Inspector Mackintosh (Peter Kay; Phoenix Nights) and the aforementioned McGraw. New cast member Lauren Patel voices PC Mukherjee, a fresh-out-of-the-Academy officer who becomes the protégé of the Chief Inspector. The story itself once again takes an odd turn that is sinister in nature while still not hurting anyone.
Stop motion animation is always a laborious process though the end results are typically incredible, and Wallace and Gromit have always been a wonderful example of stop motion filming at its best. Details are incredibly precise, from Gromit's facial expressions to the gnomes' design and execution. With nifty and wacky inventions popping up everywhere and subsequently doing as much harm as good, Wallace and Gromit offer some unique and funny moments throughout the film. A perfect example is the shoe launcher Wallace and Gromit use to create a weapon to take down (a.k.a. reset) the evil gnomes.
Much of this cast have played these characters for many, many years, and they have the vocal inflections for each down pat. Their recognizability is something that makes them so endearing to audiences worldwide while also inviting new fans inside their world. Their wholesome attitude and genuinely sweet nature are like a warm hug wrapping itself around you while also making you smile and even on occasion soliciting a laugh or two.
Wallace and Gromit (and Nick Park) have been entertaining audiences for over three decades, and this latest movie is a testament to their longevity and likability. They are great at making things hard for themselves and subsequently solving crimes unintentionally. They are somewhat relatable, and they appeal to audiences of all ages.
This latest venture continues their saga with McGraw in typical fashion and, even though he is the villain in Wallace and Gromit's world, McGraw is also somewhat likeable and cute (Honestly, can you really be THAT mad at a Claymation penguin?). In the end, this is a movie the whole family can enjoy not only for the cute characters and the craftsmanship that has gone into the stop motion animation process but also for the sheer fun and good nature of Wallace and Gromit.
Grade: A
