Nick Park's animated comic duo is back, this time in a feature-length satire of Terence Fisher's Curse Of The Werewolf and several other films, says Mark. The previous Wallace & Gromit adventures have been shorter and more dependent on cuteness. The script this time is really better than the animation and the result is genuinely funny.

This is an animated film, but it aims to please the whole family and its aim is good. Adults will appreciate the humour perhaps more than the kids, and especially the references to old horror films.

Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10

As most readers will be aware, Wallace and Gromit are the Claymation stars of a series of films made by British Nick Park of Aardman Animation Productions. Wallace is the creator of absurd inventions - many with a Rube Goldberg accent -and a lover of cheese - especially if it is Wensleydale. Gromit, his ever- patient dog, is the real brains of the operation.

Wallace talks but says little that is not inane. Being a dog, Gromit cannot talk in words, but he is constantly saving Wallace from destruction and his eyes and their prominent eyebrows perform the function of a Greek Chorus for the stories. As always you can tell Nick Park's animation style. His characters look like a dentist has stuffed cotton wadding in their cheeks.

Wallace seems to be in a different profession in every tale. This time around Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) and Gromit (who has or needs no voice) are in the vegetable garden security business calling themselves Anti-Pesto. Of course there are some people around who are willing to kill the rabbits and other garden pests, but Anti-Pesto promises to protect gardens without harming the sweet little creatures who prey on them.

They are particularly in demand as their town's Giant Vegetable Competition (is that Giant Vegetable-Competition Giant-Vegetable Competition?) is coming up and the rivalry is cutthroat. Leading the competition is Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter). Wallace fancies Lady Tottington, but has competition in the suave and cultivated but dangerous Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes). Then a new factor is added. There is some sort of super-beast that is preying on gardens. Wallace and Gromit must solve the mystery of the terrible were-rabbit.

This is a better script than the dynamic duo's shorter adventures. Those depended to a greater degree on the novelty of the characters and their cuteness. This film has more references to other films and a greater density of jokes. There are probably more jokes here than even in Chicken Run, Nick Park's other feature film. Perhaps the charm of Wallace and Gromit was starting to wear thin.

It is unlikely it would not have supported a feature almost as long as all the previous adventures put together. But this script is a lot funnier than those of previous outings and it should breathe new life into the characters. (It was even a little disconcerting for me to hear the audience laughing and to realize I missed it because I was looking in the wrong part of the screen. This is a film that will bear repeated viewing. Of course, I saw some jokes I think other people missed.)

It should be noted that this is the first Wallace & Gromit adventure that is not directed solely by Nick Park. Primary direction credit goes to Steve Box who has been an animator on previous adventures. For this feature-length film he has first billing (and his first billing) as director. Also, Park's writing partner on the last two Wallace & Gromit films and this film has been Bob Baker. However, this time around he also has Steve Box and Mark Burton doing the writing.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit is a good afternoon's fun. Given their international popularity already, I expect it to be popular all over the world.

I rate it +2 on the -4 to +4 scale or 7/10.

Mark R. Leeper

Copyright 2005 Mark R. Leeper