CHICKEN RUN -----------
"No chicken escapes from Tweedy's farm!" is the challenge taken on by one plucky chicken named Ginger (Julia Sawalha). Ginger wants a better world for herself and her friends, the other inmates at the Tweedy's Egg Farm, so she attempts one breakout after another, only to end up in solitary every time. But, the clock is running out for Ginger and her fowl friends as the evil Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson) finds a new way to feather her nest - instead of gathering their eggs, she plans to turn her chickens into pies! With the help of a new arrival, Rocky Rhodes (Mel Gibson), the self-acclaimed Lone Free Ranger, Ginger hatches a spectacular and daring escape plan, a plan that will free them all in "Chicken Run."
ROBIN:
The makers of "Chicken Run," co-directors and co-producers Nick Park and Peter Lord, have elevated the art of claymation to a pinnacle with such works as the Oscar nominated animated short, "Wat's Pig" and Oscar winners, "Creature Comforts," "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Close Shave." The latter two established the characters, Wallace and Gromit, as figures of international popularity. So, the anticipation among the fans of Aardman Entertainment for their first feature has been long and expectant. And the word?
No worries, mate!
"Chicken Run" is a parody of and homage to all the great POW and prison break movies we have seen over the decades. Most prominent is the best of them all, the 1963 John Sturges classic "The Great Escape," which the Park/Lord film so lovingly recreates. At the very opening, Ginger is in the midst of breaking out of her prison, only to be thwarted by the "goons," Mr. Tweedy and his vicious guard dogs. The following montage shows the indefatigable Ginger trying again and again, only to fail and end up in the hole. Her spirit never flags, though, so, when Rocky, quite literally, flies into her life, hope for escape to the fabled Paradise Farm is rejuvenated.
I don't want to get into the meat of the story of "Chicken Run." That is best left for the filmmakers to do when you see it yourself, which I hope everyone does. Suffice it to say that this is the most fun I have had at the movies since "Toy Story 2." Park/Lord have made an indelible mark in the annals of feature animation that rivals The Giant - Disney. The painstaking nature of the claymation technique requires years to produce a full-length film and the folks at Aardman took the time to learn their lessons. Their entry into the big time is nothing less than spectacular.
Don't get me wrong. "Chicken Run" is not a perfect film. At about the 25-minute mark, the story started to wind down and I thought I would see a good, not great, animation. Things quickly take a turn for the better as the tale of escape cranks up, Ginger makes her plans and Rocky provides the beefcake for the ladies at Tweedy's farm. The story, basically, follows the same plot as "The Great Escape," but with the chickens facing a more onerous fate than just being prisoners. The imperative of escape reaches serious proportions as their true fate - to become the primary ingredient of Mrs. Tweedy's Homemade Chicken Pies - is realized. High drama, comedy and action prevail 'til the end.
Besides "The Great Escape" (the direct references to which had me in stitches) there are allusions to such other terrific POW films as "Stalag 17." The amazing thing about "Chicken Run" is that it takes such subjects as genocide (or, is that chicken-ocide?) and imprisonment and puts a humorous spin on it without being silly. Don't get me wrong, there is enough silliness and dumb, funny humor to appeal to the kids (and "Hogan's Heroes" fans) in the audience. There is also a plethora of intelligence and wit, coupled with some very dark humor, to keep the adult population attentive and entertained.
The vocal characterizations, with their onscreen images, are first rate. While Mel Gibson is the name name, the rest of the cast, led by Sawalha (daughter Sapphire of "Absolutely Fabulous) as Ginger, are equal to their characters. Except for Miranda Richardson as the voice of Mrs. Tweedy, you won't recognize many of the British cast members. Jane Horrocks ("Little Voice," and Bubble in "Ab Fab") gives voice to the simple, but lovable, Babs, who is forever knitting. Stage actress Lynn Ferguson provides an enjoyable Scottish burr to Mac, a super-intelligent hen who is the engineering brains of the escape team. Benjamin Whitrow as the aging rooster Fowler, Tony Haygarth as the dumb but observant Mr. Tweedy, Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels as the rat procurers Nick and Fetcher all contribute to the depth of character this 86-minute marvel of a movie deserves.
The production, especially to those who are familiar with the painstaking nature of claymation, is a wonder to behold. Within minutes of the start of the film, the viewer is completely taken over by the world created by the Aardman folks. The attention to details, such as every chicken being a unique character with her own look and personality, is astounding. The current hype, today, for computer generated imagery (CGI) is put to shame by the shear craftsmanship of this stellar example of such a traditional technique. Stop motion animation has been around since the early days of movies and "Chicken Run" is at the pinnacle of its art.
"Chicken Run" should be seen by the whole family. Actually, it should be seen by everyone. It has intelligence, humor, drama and tragedy, dance numbers, amour and more, any of which will have appeal to someone out there. The sinister aspects of the story may be a bit too dark for younger, sensitive kids, but the overall lightness of "Chicken Run's" being should help get them by.
I don't say this often enough: I give "Chicken Run" an unbridled A.
LAURA:
Fans of triple-Oscar winner Nick Parks' delightful "Wallace and Grommit" shorts are rewarded with his (and co-director/producer Peter Lord) long-awaited claymation feature film debut "Chicken Run."
Ginger (Julia Sawalha, "Absolutely Fabulous") is a resourceful hen among the downtrodden denizens of Tweedy's Chicken Farm, where Mr. Tweedy (Tony Haygarth, "London Kills Me") suspiciously patrols the barbed wire perimeters of his chicken huts with two vicious guard dogs. Ginger dreams of a life of freedom, beyond the grassy hills she can she from the roof of her hut, but although she's capable of escaping herself, her vision includes all her friends at the farm, who she refuses to abandon.
When one hen fails to produce eggs, she's removed to the chopping block (reminiscent of Babe's almost-fate) by the unrelentingly mean Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson, "Sleepy Hollow"). To make matters worse, a chicken products van arrives delivering a mysterious contraption that's hidden in the barn. Only Mr. Tweedy's problems getting it to work are buying Ginger time to plot their escape.
A savior arrives in the form of an arrogant Yank rooster, Rocky (Mel Gibson), who arrives catapulted over the fence yelling 'Freedom!' at the top of his lungs (the film's punched up with many movie in-jokes referencing the likes of "Braveheart," "Stalag 17" and, most notably, "The Great Escape"). Ginger enlists his help to teach her girls how to fly.
The screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick ("James and the Giant Peach") tells a traditionally simple tale. The pleasures of "Chicken Run" are to be found in its marvelous details (a V of geese pass overhead as Ginger watches the sun set from behind a fence, two huckster rats pass off a tub stopper on a chain as a necklace for sale), terrific characterizations and vocal performances, a darkness reflected in the look of the film and the painstaking process of the claymation itself.
Hundreds of distinctly different chickens were created for this film, several of whom lend terrific support to Ginger and Rocky. Janes Horrocks ("Little Voice" and another "Absolutely Fabulous" vet) is Babs, a sweetly dim bird with a serious knitting habit. Lynn Ferguson (a Scottish stage actress and standup comedienne) is Mac, the bespeckled engineering genius who provides a marvelous foil for Rocky's "Braveheart" moments. Benjamin Whitrow ("A Man for All Seasons") is Fowler, the elderly RAF vet and house rooster who resents Rocky's arrival and vents the British spleen at the Americans late arrival into WWII.
Outside of the chickens, there are only two humans - the Tweedys. Mrs. Tweedy is a dried up crone who resents her husband's inability to provide something better than their bleak farm. Mr. Tweedy is henpencked indeed and accused of losing his mind when he suggests their chickens are plotting. Two rats, Nick (Timothy Spall, "Love's Labour's Lost") and Fetcher (Phil Daniels, "Bad Behavior") provide comic relief and suggest the "King Rat" aspect of the farm with their black market trading.
While "Chicken Run" is a delightful achievement, it doesn't quite attain the constant brilliance of the "Wallace and Grommit" shorts. Ironically, there's no "Feathers McGraw" moment - the startling hilarity of a penguin passing himself off as a chicken with a rubber glove on his head in "The Wrong Trousers." Still, kudos to the huge group of filmmakers whose patience with the stop-motion technique has brought this charmer for young and old alike to the screen.
B+
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