Greetings again from the darkness. They’re back! The last ‘Wallace & Gromit’ short film was in 2018, and their last feature-length film, WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT, was released in 2005. Creator Nick Park is back as co-writer and co-director with fellow W&G collaborators Mark Burton and Merlin Crossingham, respectively. This creative consistency is crucial to the franchise success, and helps overcome the 2017 passing of Peter Sallis, longtime voice of Wallace.
Ben Whitehead fits seamlessly as the voice of Wallace, the master inventor of contraptions and gadgets – gadgets that sometimes make simple tasks a bit more complicated, though quite entertaining. Wallace’s loyal, observant, and intelligent pet beagle is Gromit – a non-speaking pooch who emotes through eyes and body language, often expressing annoyance, frustration, or concern. If you’ve seen the films, the shorts, or the TV series, you are familiar with the set-up, though this one takes on somewhat of an ominous tone early on.
When the story begins, Wallace is an esteemed local hero having contributed to the capture of the Blue Diamond Thief. It turns out the thief is none other than Feathers McGraw, the dastardly penguin of the 1993 short film, WALLACE & GROMIT: THE WRONG TROUSERS. Wallace introduces us to his newest and most contemporary invention: Norbot (Reece Shearsmith), a ‘smart’ garden gnome programmed to help with chores around the house. In an obvious swipe at Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), the wily penguin hacks into Norbot from the confines of his (zoo) cell, setting off an army of robotic gnomes. His plan is to gain revenge on Wallace.
As a viewer, I find so much joy in the creativity on display. In fact, the storytelling and character development is superior to much of what passes for movies these days, and I found myself purely satisfied with the entertainment value and the comedic elements that generated welcome laughter. Peter Kay is back to voice now Chief Inspector Mackintosh, the frazzled leader, while Lauren Patel voices PC Mukherjee, the officer with good instincts. The stop-motion animation visuals are better than ever (especially in the action sequences), and it’s a pleasure to find an entertaining film for all ages (even if it slyly sneaks in a message here and there). The franchise dates back to the first short film in 1989 and if you are unfamiliar, I recommend getting to know Wallace & Gromit.
On Netflix January 3, 2025
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