Wallace & Gromit: Revenge Plus Birds Review

After many years, a staple of the world of animation is being revived thanks to the release of Wallace and Gromit: Most Birds’ RevengeAardman Animation’s latest stop-motion effort centered on the beloved duo. This is the first Wallace and Gromit film to be released since 2008 A question of bread and deathand also the first to introduce new Wallace actor Ben Whitehead, with him replacing the late Peter Sallis. Understandably, expectations are high, and directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham are aiming high with a story that is both timely and reminiscent of the series’ past.

I want to start by admitting that, aside from one episode I watched when I was a kid, I’m very new to this subject. Wallace and Gromit world. I’ve always been aware of their place in pop culture, but it’s never been an area I’ve looked into. However, after watching Vengeance More Bird, I definitely see the appeal of these beautifully animated adventures and the characters that inhabit them.

Vengeance Most Fowl puts its own spin on a familiar and timely story

This is still definitely the world of Wallace and Gromit

Since his last appearance on screen, Wallace has not been idle, as Vengeance More Bird quickly returns to his love of inventing wild contraptions. The entire house was taken over by machines designed to make his life easier, much to Gromit’s dismay. The situation only gets worse when Wallace reveals his latest creation: Norbot (Reece Shearsmith), a garden gnome programmed to be immensely useful and perfectly perform household chores. He immediately destroys Gromit’s colorful garden in the name of efficiency, thus making himself the beagle’s enemy.

As news about Norbot’s ability grows, a character familiar to longtime viewers remains in the shadows. Feathers McGraw, the notorious thief that Wallace and Gromit arrested in 1993 The wrong pants, is sitting in prison (aka the zoo) biding his time. When McGraw learns about Norbot, a plan begins to form, and anyone who’s seen a movie involving AI can tell where this is going.

It could easily become a boring and predictable story, but screenwriters Park and Mark Burton cleverly keep it as a Wallace and Gromit adventure first. Even as Norbot becomes rogue and increasingly terrifying, Feathers McGraw remains the main antagonist, and the friendship between the two titular characters is always at the center of the plot. Gromit has a deep distrust of Norbot, initially rooted in his dislike of Wallace’s over-reliance on technology, but his decision to pursue the intelligent gnome is based on his desire to protect his human friend.

Wallace and Gromit’s latest adventure feels as risky as an action movie

And it’s only enhanced by the excellent animation

Vengeance More Bird combines low and high stakes to make an exciting stunt. Wallace’s creation of Norbot stirs up trouble in his quaint neighborhood, and this somehow becomes as urgent as Feathers McGraw once again trying to steal a diamond from the local museum. Everything comes together in a breathless chase through the city and down the river. giving Vengeance More Bird the opportunity for both to let loose with their excitement and re-ground the story in Wallace and Gromit’s friendship.

I will never stop, pun not intended, being impressed by stop-motion animation, and Vengeance More Bird it’s a perfect display of the incredible work that can come out of it. From Wallace’s crazy inventions to the barge chase in the third act, animators bring this world to life with expert skill. Special credit must be given to Norbot’s design; although packaged in an adorably small garden gnome body, the robot ends up being genuinely disturbing as its evil side comes out. The permanent smile etched on his face, combined with his mechanical movements, make him a frightening villain and add Vengeance More Birdemotions.

Although I can’t say how this compares to the previous ones Wallace and Gromit movies, I can safely say that Vengeance More Bird is a worthy addition to the canon, one that showcases the series’ strengths and tackles a hot topic with ease. This film made me laugh and sigh in equal measure, and I was completely enchanted by Wallace’s eccentric nature and Gromit’s unwavering loyalty. I hope this wins over longtime fans and newcomers alike when it officially releases.

Wallace and Gromit: Most Birds’ Revenge will air on the BBC in the UK on December 25 before debuting worldwide on Netflix on January 3, 2025. It is 78 minutes long and is rated PG for some action and crude humor.