'wallace & gRomit: vengeance most fowl' Review

By Nadia Dalimonte

A still from Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Aardman Animation never disappoints with the beloved claymation duo Wallace & Gromit. The pair’s latest adventure, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, boasts another great day of inventing, complete with modern thematic urgency and a film noir twist. That Vengeance Most Fowl slides perfectly into a fun double feature with 2023’s Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning — Part One speaks to how widespread the dangers of artificial intelligence are, both in life and the art it inspires. Co-directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham find sweet spots in a genre-hopping story that remind audiences of Wallace and Gromit’s endearing charm. The cheese-loving inventor and his gently devoted dog are given a fresh spin in a masterful balance of tension and British humor. The astounding puppetry, lovable characters, and villainous return of a fan favorite make Vengeance Most Fowl a most comforting ode to imagination.

Gnomes have always been interwoven into the fabric of Wallace and Gromit’s world, whether as lawn ornaments or extensions of Gromit’s love for gardening. Four-time Oscar winning filmmaker Nick Park, the co-director and co-writer of 2005’s Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, returns with a clever gnome-centric tale that plops Wallace and Gromit on a much grander scale. Though, the advancements in technology since Wallace and Gromit’s first feature are met with the upmost caution. Anne King’s puppet design and Matt Perry’s production design help retain the crafty, thumbprint charm of what makes the characters so distinctive. Whether it’s the flawed ambition of Wallace, or the quiet heroism and gentle impatience of Gromit, their classic personalities shine in an exploration of modern themes.

The use of gnomes is a neat vehicle for the dangers of artificial intelligence and over-reliance on technology. In Vengeance Most Fowl, Wallace (Ben Whitehead) introduces his latest cheery invention: Norbot (Reece Shearsmith). This nifty voice-activated “smart” gnome is pre-programmed to do all the gardening and various “tedious” maintenance jobs. Norbot’s completion of tasks in neat and tidy fashion attracts Wallace and Gromit’s neighbors, prompting the cheesed inventor to create “Gnome Improvements” from his West Wallaby Street home. But when the robot’s fixed smile is hacked by a masterminding force, Gromit must swoop in to save the day as an army of Norbots wreak havoc.

The core failing of Wallace’s new invention is that he considers Norbot progressive; the “smart” gnome is the inventor’s proof of how embracing technology makes life easier, because it allows him to sit back and let machines do all the work. This mentality extends even to the tiniest of actions in Wallace and Gromit’s household. Much to Gromit’s chagrin, the old teapot hasn’t been used in ages. Wallace even has an invention for giving Gromit a good ole pat on the head. But technology could never match a cozy hot cup of tea from a whistling kettle, or the warmth of a loving embrace.

We live in an age where technological innovations have gone too far, and as Mark Burton’s screenplay so deftly captures, such advancements can be catastrophic when fallen in the wrong hands. With fun echoes of Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt confronting an enemy of artificial intelligence in Dead Reckoning, Vengeance Most Fowl shines in its savvy script, which makes way for some smashing action sequences. The hacked gnome plot also provides a terrific opportunity for Aardman to bring back the mysterious Feathers McGraw, famously a silent menace of previous Wallace and Gromit adventures. With his red rubber glove hat and beady little eyes, his character serves as the motivation behind Norbot going rogue.

Feathers McGraw proves to be one of the most effective cinematic villains, animated or not. You constantly anticipate his next conniving move, each one adding irresistible layers to the character’s capabilities and under-the-surface personality. Feathers’s scenes bring elements of Hitchcockain suspense, film noir, and the prison heist sub-genre to Vengeance Most Fowl. His vengeance is clear as crystal and not to be underestimated, which adds real stakes to the story. It’s incredible how the simplicity of Feathers’s subtle animation style speaks volumes. The tiniest of details expose his intentions.

As is the case with every Aardman Animation production, the beauty is in the details. Beady eyes catching the light in a particular way can make a character appear evil inside. Silent shrugs and raised eyebrows can convey a world of frustration. Billboards and books are the perfect backdrops for cheeky local gags and cheesy literary puns. Most impressive about the visual language of Vengeance Most Fowl is that, while it looks slightly more elevated than previous Wallace & Gromit works, the animation never appears glossy. The action sequences and intricate villainous lairs call for bigger scopes, but the intimacy of the characters never get lost. The film still has that textured, rough-around-the-edges charm, which puts the animation team’s work on full display and keeps the makeup of this endearing world intact.

The film’s spectacular voice-work and music also play an integral part in retaining Wallace & Gromit’s DNA. Following the legendary original voice of Wallace, Peter Sallis, who passed away in 2017, Ben Whitehead proves worthy of maintaining the musicality in Wallace's voice. His performance is both an incredible mimic and a moving ode to the character fans fell in love with. Additional cast standouts include returning talent Peter Kay as Chief Inspector Mackintosh (who first appeared as a police constable in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit), and new talent Lauren Patel as P.C Mukherjee, an instinctive recruit determined to prove herself on her first day. Plus, the super cheerful Reece Shearsmith brings Norbot the “smart” gnome to life with lovable energy, successfully avoiding what could have been a monotone robotic voice.

Adding more music to the ears is Lorne Balfe and Julian Nott’s original score. Before we get the classic Wallace & Gromit theme, we get a taste of the suspenseful notes that convey Feathers McGraw’s villainy. Balfe and Nott keep up this musical range throughout. They heighten the dramatic stakes, enhance the humor, and maintain the whimsical eccentricity of Wallace and Gromit’s world. In listening to the evolution of each track, it feels like being guided on a journey of several genres packed seamlessly into one film.

With the many creatively told Wallace & Gromit stories out there, from The Curse of the Were-Rabbit to the delightful short films (the first being 1989’s A Grand Day Out), Vengeance Most Fowl might not top everyone’s list. Regardless, it’s an absolutely charming adventure, a memorable addition to this beloved world of a good-natured inventor and his intelligent dog.

Catch Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl on Netflix on January 3, 2025.