Nick Park’s iconic stop-motion duo, Wallace & Gromit, is back for their latest adventure in “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.” Mark Burton pens the screenplay based on a story idea he developed with Park.
The movie opens with a sequence that sets the tone perfectly: Wallace (Ben Whitehead), as usual churlishly excited, shows off his latest creation, Norbit (Reece Shearsmit ),a “Smart Gnome” designed to do jobs around the house. Only trouble? It’s too bright, and Gromit isn’t sold on the new companion.
Things take a dramatic turn when Feathers McGraw, Wallace and Gromit’s penguin nemesis, reprograms Norbot to turn evil. With a squad of Norbots at his disposal, Feathers McGraw escapes from his zoo prison to retrieve the blue diamond he had stolen years earlier through the efforts of Wallace and Gromit.
The strength of Wallace & Gromit has been Wallace’s invincible faith in his products. Watching Gromit cut through the mess, quietly snarling at his human occupant, is reassuring to anyone who’s ever watched someone you love run into get-rich-quick schemes that become a disaster. Gromit’s cynical expression is enough to tell you that — just as always, he’s in control with the elegance of a thousand brows.
Longtime fans will appreciate the return of Chief Inspector Albert Mackintosh (Peter Kay), who has a new plucky young protégée in the form of PC Mukherjee (Lauren Patel) and a few other easter eggs. I commend the script for going above and beyond, a simple struggle between good and evil and human and gnome. It’s a cynical reminder that tech is a friend, but overdosing on it can have disastrous effects, perhaps demonstrated by Wallace’s incessant desire to snuggle up to his latest device rather than listen to Gromit, who is always lifting the lid.
Director Nick Park continues to demonstrate his talent for warmth mixed with fun. The inherently British animation reminds us that the best comes from the worst. No matter how immovable, every character is filled with life and emotion, bringing laughter and tension to the forefront when needed.
Mixing heart, laughs, and a cautionary tale, “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” is highly recommended.
Final Grade: A
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” is available to stream on Netflix tomorrow.
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