Legendary animation house Aardman has had a number of successes over the years, but they first came to fame thanks to a series of shorts centered on a bumbling inventor and his loyal canine companion. Wallace & Gromit have delighted audiences for decades now, with four short films, several spin-offs, and a feature-length adventure: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. In recent years, the duo has been fairly dormant, but have finally made their return with a new feature-length film subtitled Vengeance Most Fowl. The film serves as a direct sequel to The Wrong Trousers, one of the most beloved entries in the franchise, and sees the pair once again facing off against the dastardly penguin Feathers McGraw. Adding in some more modern elements, namely some commentary on the rise of AI, Wallace and Gromit make an amusing return to the screen that may not be completely at the level of their best outings, but still has the same charm and heart that we’ve come to expect from the series.
As the film begins, Gromit is concerned that Wallace (voiced by Ben Whitehead) is becoming a bit too reliant on his inventions, as he is using them for nearly every task in his life. This comes to a head when Wallace invents Norbot (voiced by Reece Shearsmith), a “smart” gnome that helps out with gardening and other household chores. When Norbot starts to behave erratically and seemingly develops a mind of its own, Wallace finds himself facing a reality where he may never be able to invent again. When it appears that the evil Feathers McGraw might be masterminding the entire thing, Gromit must step up and fight back to save his master.
As someone who loves Wallace & Gromit, as well as someone whose favorite short of theirs is The Wrong Trousers, I had pretty high expectations for this one. I went in kind of blind, knowing only that Feathers McGraw was back and little else. I couldn’t help but bristle a little when I first realized that the film’s plot was at least partially about AI, as I wasn’t sure how well it would be handled. Thankfully, it manages to land well, and is explored in a way that should be easily understood by children and adults alike. At the very least, it makes for a fun update of the plot of Trousers, where Feathers controlled Wallace by using a pair of “techno-trousers” to attempt to steal a priceless diamond. It really speaks to the power of Nick Park that he is able to inject some modernity into the timeless feel of the Wallace & Gromit films, as this could have ended quite poorly. Instead, we get a film that captures so much of what fans like about the series, while also making some jabs at current events.
That said, the storytelling does feel a bit clunky at times, leading the film to feel a bit stretched out. The premise, while good, does feel like it might have been better suited for a short film and not a feature. It still manages to be enjoyable every step of the way, but it doesn’t feel as efficient and consistent as previous Wallace & Gromit films. Something about the way it shifts between plot threads just feels off, and it feels like it includes certain elements just to pad out the run time. I don’t necessarily have an issue with any of the story elements in particular, but I am a little underwhelmed by how they’re executed. I can’t explain it, but something about the energy of the film just seems a little off when compared to the rest of the series.
That’s not to say that the film lacks the inventiveness that other installments have, as the animation is superb as always and there is some genuinely great filmmaking on display here. As is the case with other Wallace & Gromit adventures, the film does a great job of warmly welcoming you into the world of these characters, and its classic blend of dry humor and spirited direction is still intact. But what the film does that had me most overjoyed is it features a great action sequence near the end of the film which feels reminiscent of something from the Mission: Impossible movies. Considering that The Wrong Trousers has a show-stopping action sequence as well, it makes sense that Vengeance Most Fowl would have one too. Without spoiling anything, Nick Park and company manage to outdo themselves by having the action take place on a much larger scale this time around, thus raising the stakes and providing the film with a surprisingly thrilling moment. It is the absolute apex of the entire film, and a highlight of the franchise as a whole.
Longtime fans of Wallace & Gromit will likely be pleased with Vengeance Most Fowl, but I wouldn’t go into this expecting it to be their finest hour. It is a lot of fun, has the same charm and humor of the rest of the series, but its premise does wear a little thin over the course of its runtime. Although this isn’t my favorite Wallace & Gromit adventure, I still had a great time with it and it continues to prove that Aardman are masters of stop-motion animation. Storytelling issues aside, this is still a welcome return to the screen for Wallace & Gromit, and is truly a delight in spite of its flaws.
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