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Film review - Wallace & Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (U)
From the archive, first published Friday 14th Oct 2005.
YOU can almost hear Wallace say it to his canine pal Gromit, can't you? "Ay lad, it's been a funny old week."
On the day that Aardman Animations learned that its new movie topped the US box office, a fire ripped through the company's Bristol warehouse, destroying sets and props from all of its productions.
That all happened on Monday. Today Wallace & Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit opens in the UK, and is certain to repeat its US success.
After three successful and Oscar-winning short films featuring the cheese-loving crackpot inventor and his long-suffering but loving dog,
Aardman has finally given the duo the feature length treatment. It's been a long haul stop-motion clay animation is a precise and painstaking process but with financial input from Hollywood (from the mighty Dreamworks studio) and Aardman's usual love and care for its project, Wallace and Gromit successfully make the transition from 20-minute short to 84-minute full-blown cinematic joy.
In a small northern town, the greenfingered residents are looking forward to the annual veg competition at local stately pile Tottington Hall.
Unfortunately, the treasured crops are continually under threat from a particularly large and active rabbit population.
That's where Anti-Pesto comes in. With a little ingenuity and a lot of Heath Robinson-style technology, Wallace (Sallis) and Gromit spring into action as soon as a neighbour's garden alarm is sounded.
The offending bunnies are efficiently rounded up and then cared for in W and G's basement.
But trouble is afoot. Up at the hall, Lady Tottington (Bonham Carter) is over-run with rabbits. Rather than submit to suitor Victor Quartermaine (Fiennes) and his big gun, Lady T calls in Anti-Pesto.
Wallace and Gromit successfully clear the grounds of rabbits, but when back home Wallace tries out a new invention. The experiment goes horribly wrong, and before you can say rabbit stew, the community is terrorised by a terrible monster.
To help him get through the extra long running time, Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park is joined by Steve Box on directing duties, and they have made a lovingly crafted, very funny and very English comedy, bursting with ideas both visual and aural.
Indeed, not a second of screen time is wasted. There are so many sideshows to look out for as the main story takes place. Remember, the film is set oop north, so Wallace's celeb magazine isn't called Hello! it's called Ay-Up! Listen out for the giant carrot munching rabbit asking Gromit "What's up, dog?"
And, in the film's climax, Park and Box have even stolen a march on a certain simian-based monster movie due out later this year.
The characters who look like they have emerged as a Coronation Street/League Of Gentlemen hybrid are wonderfully realised by Aardman's hard-working team of animators.
And while the extra cash has meant Park and Box have been able to hire some higher profile vocal talent, it is Peter Sallis, as ever, who stands out as Wallace, providing him with those delightfully chewy Lancashire vowels.
The film is fabulous entertainment, for all ages. In fact, there is only one word for it: Cracking! 9/10
By Stephen Webb
WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
Starring the voices of: Peter Sallis, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Peter Kay
Cert U, 84 mins
Showing at: Shaw Ridge and Greenbridge
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