Wallace and Gromit
As the residents of the small British village sleep, they rest comfortably knowing their prized vegetables will be safe until the annual Giant Vegetable Competition. The villagers trust Anti-Pesto, the humane pest removal service offered by congenial inventor Wallace (voice of Peter Sallis) and his silent, trusty dog friend Gromit. Living in a flat filled with numerous devices guaranteed to make life easier, Wallace and Gromit succeed by bringing calm to chaos.
There are plenty of chaos in Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, a hilarious spoof of horror films which introduces the small screen duo to the big screen. Directed by creator Nick Park (Chicken Run) and Steve Box, Were-Rabbit is an ingenious clay-animated comedy, which like Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride, takes stop-motion animation to new heights.
There’s something appealing about the unflappable clay-created characters who sport the occasional fingerprint to validate their meager origins. With their golf ball eyes and wry expressions, Wallace and Gromit transcend traditional animation. Sallis, who has voiced Wallace from the start, injects liberal doses of dry British wit and soothing salutations into the character, making Wallace earnest and sweet.
Gromit is the quiet one, but says much through his looks of disbelief and concern. He’s Wallace’s safety net, the one person he can count on when the chips are down, or crackers. Wallace and Gromit love their cheese and crackers, so much Wallace has packed on the pounds. Ironic their cracker spread is responsible for the Wallace spread.
With the Giant Vegetable Competition just around the corner, Wallace and Gromit’s pest venture is hopping. Rabbits are turning patches into dirt fields. Using state-of-the-art humane traps, Wallace and Gromit are quickly overrun with rabbits. His only hope is using a new mind meld machine (untested) to reform the bunnies. Using the beams of the full moon to enhance the effect, Wallace creates a Were-Rabbit, a giant bunny capable of major vegetable damage.
As the vegetables dwindle and the villager’s ire grows, Wallace and Gromit brainstorm to fix the rabbit population before they run out of luck. His only competition is snooty Lord Victor Quartermain (Ralph Fiennes), who plans to show Wallace up and win the hand of the fair Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter).
Wallace and Gromit is filled with so much invention and clever asides it’s impossible to catch it all in one sitting. Writers Park, Box, Mark Burton and Bob Baker fill every frame with something to see and enjoy, turning simple moments into wild escapades. The rabbit theme pops up in unexpected moments, like when Wallace turns on a radio and hears Bright Eyes, the theme from Watership Down. Those paying attention will enjoy the film on a different level. Look closely at names on books, signs on buildings, and for the film’s biggest laugh, an extended King Kong parody with a dash of Snoopy and the Red Baron thrown in for good measure.
Park is a master magician. He turns clay into characters we care about and believe in. The detailed production design and clever gags would be wasted if Wallace and Gromit were nothing more than Gumby wannabes.
Cheese and Crack-UpsLoveable Duo Ready For Big Screen Close-Up
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Voices of Peter Sallis, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Nick Park and Steve Box. Rated G. 85 Minutes.
Larsen Rating: $10
