Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)
Well, well, well, looks like our favourite cheese-loving inventor and his loyal pooch are back at it again! Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl brings the dynamic duo to the big screen after a nearly two-decade hiatus, and it’s a mixed bag of crackers and cheese.
The story picks up years after Wallace and Gromit’s run-in with the nefarious Feathers McGraw. Our heroes are struggling to make ends meet when Wallace unveils his latest creation: Norbot, a smart garden gnome. But when Feathers hacks the system from his zoo prison, chaos ensues, and it’s up to Gromit to save the day.
Let’s start with the good stuff, shall we? Wallace and Gromit’s charm remains undeniable. The stop-motion animation is as delightful as ever, with Aardman’s signature style shining through every meticulously crafted frame. The attention to detail is astounding—you can practically see the fingerprints on the clay! And Gromit, oh Gromit, how do they make a dog with no mouth so darn expressive?
The humour is distinctly British, characterised by its dryness and double wit. There’s a brilliant scene where Gromit presses a button to activate a hand that presses another button—it’s so wonderfully unnecessary, you can’t help but chuckle. And Feathers McGraw? Still one of the best silent villains in animation history. His workout scene set to the Cape Fear theme had me laughing out loud.
But here’s where things get a bit… cheesy. The plot, while serviceable, feels a tad rehashed. The “technology gone wrong” trope has been seen a million times before, and Vengeance Most Fowl doesn’t offer anything particularly new. It’s comfort food, sure, but sometimes you want a little spice with your cheddar, you know?
The pacing is also a bit off. With a duration of just over an hour, the film exhibits a sense of hurriedness, seemingly attempting to compress an excessive amount of story into a limited amount of time. The shuffle obscures some of the character development, particularly with the introduction of new characters such as Norbot.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant—or should I say, the penguin—in the room. The return of Feathers McGraw presents both positive and negative aspects. On one hand, it’s great to see the old villain back in action. On the other, it feels a bit like the filmmakers are relying too heavily on nostalgia rather than crafting a truly compelling new story.
The themes of technology and its impact on relationships are timely, but they’re not explored as deeply as they could be. This represents a lost opportunity to delve deeper into some significant issues while maintaining a light and enjoyable tone.
Without a doubt, Vengeance Most Fowl remains an enjoyable cinematic experience. The voice acting is solid, with Ben Whitehead doing an admirable job stepping into the late Peter Sallis’s shoes as Wallace. The set pieces are clever, and there’s a genuine warmth to the whole affair that’s hard to resist.
But when you’re dealing with a franchise as beloved as Wallace & Gromit, expectations are sky-high. And while this latest outing doesn’t quite reach those lofty heights, it’s still a pleasant enough way to spend an hour and change.
So, should you see it? If you’re a die-hard fan of the series, absolutely. Even though the conversation may not be as captivating as it once was, it’s still enjoyable to reconnect with old friends. For newcomers, it might not be the best introduction to the world of Wallace & Gromit, but there’s enough charm and wit to make it worth a watch.
In the end, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is like a slice of mild cheddar—pleasant, comforting, but not quite sharp enough to leave a lasting impression. It’s good for a laugh and a smile, but not quite the grand day out we were hoping for.