Most North Americans are unfamiliar with the Wallace and Gromit franchise though director Nick Park and his Aardman Features Company have garnered three Oscars for the best animated shorts CREATURE COMFORTS, WRONG TROUSERS and A CLOSE SHAVE.  Park’s other animated box-office hit CHICKEN RUN (THE GREAT ESCAPE with chickens) might ring a bell. But the beauty of Park’s animation is that it is truly claymation, involving painstaking techniques of stop motion animation which, though refined over the years, have remained the same since its inception. (Park’s first film, the short A GRAND DAY OUT took 6 years in the making.)

Wallace (Peter Sallis, who also voiced all the Wallace shorts) is a cheese loving inventor and Gromit, is his non-speaking ever faithful dog. The comedy adventure involves Anti-Pesto (brilliantly comic name) the company their have started to rid customers of the pesky rabbits that destroy their vegetable plots. Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter) commissions the company to catch a now new mysterious monster were-rabbit that is suddenly creating havoc.  In tune to world affairs and to be bunny-politically correct, she would rather have the creature caught than shot as proposed by her snobby suitor, the vain Victor Quatermaine (Ralph Fiennes). That is as far as the story goes, but Park’s film is pure delight for both kids and adults.

The film is filled with puns galore – a few of them quite brilliant, though some may go unnoticed.  Neat touches like (the rabbit saying to the dog: “What’s up dog?” or the were-rabbit being destroyed by a pure gold 24-carrot bullet) will put a smile on the faces of all ages.  Park’s film is excellently paced, moving to a speedy climax with an up in the air plane dog fight (also literally between Gromit and the villain’s pooch).  And to keep with the spirit of all other Wallace and Gromit features, it is the dog that saves the day.  A little harmless naughtiness is added in out bit, with Lady Nottington complaining that she cannot interest Victor in her produce (as she lifts two huge melons in front of her). 

A short note and credit to the appropriate music written by my London buddy Julian Black with whom I always party with when I visit the city.

Recognition has to go with Gromit’s claymation, as all communication has to be done through facial expressions (as he is a non-speaking character) and body language.  Bonham Carter and Fiennes are fine as the Lady and suitor and having fun as well, evident in their camp over-the-top impressions.  Regrettably, more should be seen of the other supporting characters, such as Mrs. Mulch (Liz Smith), Miss Bight (Mark Gatiss) and PC Mackintosh (Peter Kay).

WERE RABBIT is the first feature I have reviewed where I am not complaining about it being too cutesy.  These hopping furry bunnies are just too much!  Something wicked this way hops, but don’t ever miss the accompanying delight.  Guaranteed to win next year’s Oscar for best animated film!