Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Be careful whose feathers you ruffle…
Feathers McGraw is back and looking for revenge in this entertaining romp.
Gromit is, by any definition, a good boy. He’s the loyal dog of inventor Wallace (Ben Whitehead), responsible for running the household and, well, keeping Wallace alive. It’s not easy being the dog of an inventor, you’re constantly dodging flying substances, putting out literal fires, and steering your owner away from disaster.
Gromit’s only respite is gardening. He loves to tend to his blooms and cultivate a beautiful, wild land.
In a wrong-headed attempt to help his loyal dog enjoy his garden, Wallace invents a little robot named Norbot (Reece Shearsmith) that will help him. What Norbot does, however, is mow down all of Gromit’s wildflowers and turn his bit of natural paradise into a minimalist nightmare. Gromit instantly hates Norbot, but Wallace sees potential and begins to market him as a yard care service.
Unfortunately for Wallace and Gromit, another creature has seen potential in Norbot — Feathers McGraw. A penguin jewel thief who was once thwarted by Wallace and Gromit, he’s been stewing in super max prison (the zoo) for years, plotting his revenge. When he manages to hack into Norbot’s mainframe, chaos is unleashed.
Can Gromit save his master from an evil penguin? And when is technology too much?
Nick Park returns to the director’s chair with this lovely sequel to his Wallace and Gromit films. Park and co-director Merlin Crossingham craft a world full of sight gags, commentary on modern technological obsession, and real emotion. The duo understands that Wallace and Gromit function best when they’re being silly, so we get plenty of shenanigans.
Park has always been a deft hand at animation. And while this isn’t a dialogue-free film, it’s often the silent characters who make the most impact.
Gromit, in particular, with his Buster Keaton eyes and constantly vigilant demeanor, is a lovable pup who’s dedicated to keeping his owner alive. As Wallace crafts increasingly preposterous things, Gromit runs around averting disaster at every turn. But even though Wallace puts him through his paces, Gromit remains a dedicated and loyal friend, even when Wallace destroys his garden in the name of “help”.
But the most welcome return to the Aardman Studios universe is undoubtedly Feathers McGraw. He first appeared in The Wrong Trousers in 1993. Thirty-odd years later, he’s back and looking for revenge. Park and Crossingham have such fun portraying Feathers’ life behind bars. Some of the scenes are taken straight from Cape Fear and Night of the Hunter. I’m surprised he didn’t have “love” and “hate” tattooed on his flippers.
This is, of course, another reason that Aardman films tend to work so well — they operate on many levels. There are plenty of references for adult film buffs to pick out, but missing them doesn’t take away from the story or the message. This is one of the rare films that should truly delight all ages.
If you’re in the market for a caper film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is a safe bet. Just watch your jewelry, there’s a slippery flippered penguin about.
Verdict: Heartwarming and funny, this is a must-watch.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is rated PG and available on Netflix January 3.
