After a 16-year hiatus, Wallace and Gromit are back in Vengeance Most Fowl, rekindling their charmingly eccentric world of inventive chaos and claymation. This time, the beloved stop-motion duo confronts an old foe—Feathers McGraw, the cunning penguin from 1993's The Wrong Trousers. The film sees Feathers engineering his escape from the local zoo, setting in motion a plot involving Wallace's latest invention: Norbot, an AI-powered garden gnome that is swiftly commandeered for nefarious purposes.
Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, Vengeance Most Fowl maintains Aardman Animations' distinctive “lo-fi” aesthetic, despite subtle CGI enhancements. The film, running 79 minutes, recalls the comedic brilliance of earlier Wallace and Gromit shorts while introducing new elements, such as a humorous subplot about Norbot's robotic helpers and Gromit's struggles to keep up. Reece Shearsmith voices the mischievous Norbot, adding charm to the already whimsical cast. Meanwhile, familiar characters like Inspector Mackintosh (Peter Kay) and new faces such as rookie officer Mukherjee (Lauren Patel) round out the ensemble, enhancing the story with their delightful interactions.
While the film does reference several past adventures, Vengeance Most Fowl is more contained than its predecessors, sidestepping the narrative sprawl seen in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Fans will enjoy nods to iconic moments, including a high-stakes finale that channels the spirit of The Wrong Trousers. Although some might feel the story's stakes fall short of their expectations, Aardman's witty humor and intricate animation still make this outing a heartwarming experience for both long-time followers and new audiences alike.
The movie releases in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2024, with streaming on Netflix from January 3, 2025. BBC has a Christmas release planned for the U.K.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl feels like a welcome return, delivering the quaint humor and inventive plots that fans expect. The animation style remains endearing, and the addition of Norbot, an AI-driven gnome, cleverly reflects modern technological themes. However, the film's primary antagonist, Feathers McGraw, doesn't receive as much screen time as one might hope, reducing some of the tension compared to The Wrong Trousers.
Nonetheless, it's delightful to see the pair back in action, facing challenges that test their iconic partnership. The film also avoids bloating the narrative, opting instead for a more intimate storyline. It's a nostalgic treat that respects the series' roots while lightly updating it for contemporary viewers.
Do you think Vengeance Most Fowl manages to recapture the magic of classic Wallace and Gromit adventures, or does it fall short compared to its iconic predecessors?
