Wallace and Gromit are back just in time for the holiday season with their latest film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Premiering on Christmas Day, this eagerly awaited return has stirred excitement among fans and new viewers alike as they navigate the realms of animation and technology.
The new adventure, set to air on BBC One on December 25, 2023, and stream globally on Netflix starting January 3, 2025, marks the duo's sixth film and their first feature-length outing since The Curse of the Were-Rabbit in 2005. Acclaimed director Nick Park, who co-directed with Merlin Crossingham, delivers this charming and whimsical tale just as the audience has come to expect.
Delving deep, the plot thickens as Wallace unwittingly invents Norbot, a robotic garden gnome, which sparks Gromit’s concerns. "Gnomes have always been part of the ecosystem. We realized we could film it using Gnome Noir," explains Crossingham. This innovation sets the stage for humorous escapades as the ingenuity of Wallace's inventions becomes the center of attention once more, but perhaps not all advancements are welcome.
Adding to the excitement is the return of the villainous Feathers McGraw, last seen plotting dastardly deeds back in The Wrong Trousers. Here, he is portrayed as even more vengeful, still nursing the grudge from his previous encounters with Wallace and Gromit. “We realized it would be the perfect opportunity to bring him back,” remarks Park, educating us on how this new chapter manifests as almost personal. The soft-spoken penguin criminal seeks revenge, and soon enough, Gromit is left to untangle the web of mischief—a task made all the more challenging when Norbot begins operating off-script.
This movie highlights the classic humor fans adore, combining it with pressing contemporary themes surrounding technology and AI. While the comical escapades make it enjoyable for children, they leave adults contemplating the underlying messages. Park comments, "Tech lends itself to comedy, because I can’t think of anything more frustrating,” referencing the myriad of gadgets gone awry.
Behind the voices, Ben Whitehead steps up to embody Wallace for the first time as actor Peter Sallis passed away. Whitehead reflects on the challenge, “It’s tough as a fan to hear it and go, ‘That’s not Peter Sallis!’” But he seamlessly carries on the legacy, breathing fresh energy and authenticity back to the character.
On the technical front, the film embodies Aardman Animation’s signature stop-motion style—a labor-intensive method still faithfully applied. Crossingham concedes, “One person could do it, but rather than 15 months, you’d be taking 30.” With subtitles of nostalgia and innovation, the film remarkably ties back to established themes from the franchise, ensuring it retains the charm and quirkiness of prior installments.
Yet it hasn’t been without controversy. Some fans expressed dissatisfaction over the 4K Ultra HD Bluray release of older Wallace & Gromit content. Complaints spouted online about the remastering methods, accusing Aardman and Shout Factory of over-reliance on AI, resulting in disconcerting image issues. One fan tweeted, "This is the quality Aardman/Shout Factory are giving us and currently charging us $120 for,” illustrating the concerns surfacing among the long-time viewers.
Critics, on the other hand, have positively received the film, lavishing it with praise for preserving the delicate harmony between humor and heartfelt storytelling. “Even at its most zany, there remains kindness to it,” noted one reviewer, reminding audiences why Wallace and Gromit have remained beloved for generations. This adoration reveals itself through the characters’ dynamic, paralleled by witty banter and genuine affection. Park reiterates how the two complement one another, stating, “Wallace is always getting on Gromit’s nerves, but he’d go to the absolute ends of the earth to save him.”
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is poised to be more than just another animated feature; it promises laughter alongside greater messages about human connection, trust, and the possible dangers of technology without personal touch. It emerges as both nostalgic and timely, appealing to adults reminiscing on past Christmases spent with Wallace and Gromit as well as new generations discovering their antics for the first time.
With all the elements coming together perfectly, as the holiday season spurs us forward, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is bound to deliver not just entertainment, but also rekindle appreciation for timeless stories, with their charming artistry and witty narratives.
Don’t miss this heartwarming premiere on Christmas Day, and prepare to welcome Wallace and Gromit back to your screens!