Wallace and Gromit – #1 For a Reason
A few years ago, I was watching one of the movie review shows, as they discussed the Oscar nominees for that year. The most memorable moment of the show was a clip from Nick Park called “Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers.” Park went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Weeks later, I came across a copy of the video in Wal-Mart (still less evil than the DNC) and bought it, against the advice of my wife. After one viewing, we were hooked. Park, whose first Wallace and Gromit film had been nominated for the same Oscar, went on to collect a second Oscar for his third, “Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave.”
As you can guess, I’ve been waiting for Wallace and Gromit to make the jump to the big screen for some time. Learning that a film was in the works a couple years back, I’ve been chomping at the bit to see the modern classic comedy team in action once again. This past weekend, I got the chance.
If you’re a Wallace and Gromit fan, you won’t be dissapointed by this film. Given a chance to take a franchise to the big screen, most directors try to make it so much bigger and more exciting that they end up producing a poor product. Not so in this case. Park did go bigger, populating the town with many more characters, and having the action happen on many more sets. The result, however, is exactly what you’d expect from Wallace and Gromit. Low-key humor punctuated by real side-splitters. The film builds to an energetic climax that is both exciting and hilarious.
Unlike many G-rated movies, these days, “Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit” is truly a movie for all ages. It’s not a movie made for kids. It’s the next chapter in the lives of characters that have captured the hearts of fans of all ages. My whole family was brimming with excitement at the prospect of seeing this movie, and that we would see it on opening night was never in question.
On a sad note, however, Aardman Animation’s triumph at receiving the #1 box office slot was balanced by a sad occurrence. Aardman’s studio warehouse burned this week, destroying most of the history of the company. Lost are the sets from the early Wallace and Gromit shorts, and Chicken Run. Not everything was in the fire, though. The sets from the new blockbuster hit were elsewhere, as were a few of the props such as the rocket from “A Grand Day Out.” Also safe are Nick Park’s three Oscars for Wallace and Gromit and Creature Comforts.
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