Movie Review: ‘Wallace & Gromit’

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Review by James Lindorf

It is a great time to be a kid! Schools are wrapping up for winter break, and we are just days away from the start of most major Winter holidays. Next week will focus on adult audiences with the openings of “Nosferatu,” “Babygirl,” and “A Complete Unknown,” but this week is all about the kids. There are major studio releases from Disney and Paramount that are sure to fill theaters, along with a minor release that adds to a long-running and beloved British series.

Nick Park is the English filmmaker and animator who created Wallace & Gromit, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep, and Early Man on his way to earning six Academy Award nominations and winning four times. Park is back with the latest Wallace & Gromit feature film “Vengeance Most Fowl” with the help of his co-director Merlin Crossingham (Morph) and co-writer Mark Burton (Paddington in Peru). Wallace (Ben Whitehead), our favorite cheese-loving absent-minded professor, and his devoted beagle Gromit are in financial trouble in this latest installment. Wallace spends all his time tinkering in his workshop becoming too dependent on technology without a concern about keeping a roof over their heads. Luckily, his latest idea to redevelop the Anti-Pesto gnomes into Norbot (Reece Shearsmith), a cheerful do-it-all handybot, seems like a financial winner. When a vengeful figure from the past masterminds a plan to use the gnomes in their nefarious plot, it is up to battle sinister forces and save his master, or Wallace may never be able to invent again!

It is an obvious statement, but it must be said that “Vengeance Most Fowl” is beautifully animated. Watch the wide range of facial expressions for the voiceless Gromit if you want to understand the artistry. There is a reason Aardman Animations has seen such success for decades. Park and Burton are still in top-tier form, although this is shockingly just the second feature-length film and the first since 2005’s “Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” This time around, they are looking at our present and future, focusing on smart technology and embracing the past, with the return of Feathers McGraw, the memorable villain from “The Wrong Trousers, “31 years after the duo foiled his plans. The myriad of sight gags and puns accompanying the message make the film a delight for viewers of all ages.

It’s important to note that “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” is not a flawless film. While the film is brief, there are moments when the pacing slightly drags, particularly when Feathers’ plan is being implemented before the action-packed climax. Additionally, there are instances where a bit of suspension of disbelief is required, such as the AI and computer technology needed to build Norbot compared to the primarily mechanical inventions Wallace typically develops. These factors, along with the question of why the always good-natured Wallace would design a machine with an available personality type of evil, are worth considering. However, these issues do not detract from the film’s overall enjoyment.
Police are brought onto the case, including Chief Mackintosh (Peter Kay), who is nearing retirement, and young PC Mukherjee (Lauren Patel), who, much like Gromit, is savvier than her purported superior. Unfortunately, the pair of officers are one joke ponies and play a large part in the pacing issues in the second act.

Whether you rush to the theater or wait for it to hit your TV screen, thanks to Netflix, “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” scores a 4.5 out of 5 and is the perfect device to distract you from some winter blues.

Director: Merlin Crossingham, Nick Park
Producer: Richard Beek, Claire Jennings
Screenwriter: Mark Burton, Nick Park
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Aardman Animations
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): December 18th, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): January 3rd, 2025
Runtime: 1h 19m