It has been 19 long years between the first Wallace & Gromit feature in 2005 and now the second in 2024, but it is an understatement to say it was well worth the wait. Nick Park‘s and Aardman‘s delightful buddy movie, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is an animated film noir merged with the dangers of technology running rampant. Park created this franchise with his 1990 short, A Grand Day Out, and has been going strong with shorts and half-hour specials ever since for W & G. The first feature, Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit was one of the earliest Oscar winners when the feature animation category was established, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see history repeat itself again this year. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is a complete delight that delivers exactly what we had hoped it would – and then some.
In this movie, Wallace (now voiced by Ben Whitehead), erstwhile inventor that he is, has decided to add a “smart” Gnome (Reece Shearsmith) to go with the others in the garden so beloved by faithful dog pal, Gromit. Be careful what you wish for as this robot-like Gnome is a lot more than anyone bargained for, and in fact eventually a technological nightmare when someone mysteriously hacks into the Norbot, clearly up to no good, and sets off the entrance of several dozen other similar out-of-control Gnomes on to the scene. But who can possibly be manipulating this all behind the scenes? Why it is none other than the return to action of the evil and conniving penguin, Feathers McGraw, a bird with a plan, even from his perch locked up in prison. One of the most amusing scenes is watching Feathers (who in earlier days starred in the 1993 Park short, The Wrong Trousers) brilliantly gain access to the computer programs, even though he is incarcerated and behind bars. Feathers is hatching his nefarious plans once again and it doesn’t look like he will be stopped.
Certainly the rather bumbling, if self-confident for no good reason, Chief Inspector Macintosh (Peter Kay) is not equipped to do it, a guy who isn’t a big fan of using evidence to solve crimes, and someone who would rather be on his boat these days. Fortunately he has a new colleague in PC Mukherjee (Lauren Patel), who demonstrates an instinct for this kind of thing, even if MacIntosh (promoted since the last time the character was used) can’t seem to see it. We all know who can though. Even as Gromit lives the life of Riley, this is one smart pup with the smarts to help Wallace from himself, and save the day.
The stop motion animation and detailed character design and execution is nothing short of wonderful, and the script by Mark Burton, who developed the story over several years with Park, is witty and winning. Lorne Balfe’s and Julian Nott’s sprightly musical score adds to the fun for Wallace & Gromit devotees everywhere.
Richard Beek is the producer of this Aardman production that had its world premiere today at AFI Fest.
Title: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Festival: AFI Fest
Distributor: Netflix
Release date: December 18, 2024 (select theaters); streaming globally January 3, 2025 (on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas)
Director: Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham
Screenwriters: Mark Burton; story by Nick Park and Burton
Cast: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith, Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Wuzz Khan, Lenny Henry
Rating: PG
Running time: 1 hr 19 mins