The nation’s favourite duo, along with a renowned villain return for a brilliantly put together new feature that brings plenty of laughs.
If you think about all the famous duos that have existed over the years, then surely Wallace & Gromit are one such pair that will spring automatically to mind and with their latest adventures once again they proof why they deserve to be.
Tackling issues such as too much dependancy on technology and dealing with fowl villains, this latest feature from Nick Parks (with the help of fellow director Merlin Crossingham and co-writer Mark Burton) sees the consequences of Wallace’s invention of smart gnome Norbert – particularly when he falls into the hands of evil penguin Feathers McGraw. What follows is a hilariously silly film that is sure to delight fans of all ages.
What makes the Wallace & Gromit stories so delightful to watch is the way in which they incorporate little touches of things from popular culture, which here includes lovely tributes to James Bond (just look out for McGraw stroking a seal in a little tribute to James Bond villain Blofeld) and a canal barge scene that does feel like something out of a Mission Impossible or another action film for example.
While certain scenes could perhaps be tightened up to keep the energy and pace of the story up a little bit more, there is still no denying that is plenty of fun to watch no matter what your age is. The script is filled with plenty of silly jokes and it is credit to both Parks and Burton that the story is never dull, while the animation is top notch and provide plenty of slapstick moments.
While by now it is easy to know what to expect from a Wallace & Gromit adventure, it is easy as viewer to appreciate all the little details – right down to the characters names which include Onya Doorstep (a journalist for Up North News) and Anton Deck (a cheeky reference to Ant and Dec). Even with some of the more predictable jokes, it is impossible not to laugh or at least smile along.
But it is also a film that shows how far animation has come and why it is still so beloved (even if touches, like the water, are slightly do require a little CGI help) and the hardwork of those working behind the scenes is extremely clear to see. It is still delightfully traditional in terms of premise, but has enough contemporary relevance to introduce new audiences to Wallace and Gromit.
Overall, it is a real treat to see the dynamic duo fighting against the one and only Feathers McGraw once again. May there be more adventures for Wallace and Gromit in the pipeline!
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐