Chicken Run
Every once in a while a so-called children's movie comes along that's NOT some wicked preachy/ goofy musical/promotion for a line of toys and video games. That's what "Chicken Run" is - a beautifully animated lighthearted comedy that will pretty much be considered a kid's movie but you don't have to be eight years old to like it.
Instead of employing computer animation this movie instead uses the seemingly forgotten art of claymation. Not that there's anything wrong with cartoon and computer animation but this gives the film a refreshing appeal in today's movie market.
The story revolves around a large group of chickens on an egg farm in England. The story is told from the chickens' point of view so of course we sympathize with their plight of trying to escape. They are lead by Ginger, who dreams of freedom but whose repeated escape attempts always fail. One day an American rooster named Rockey Rhodes ends up in the pen with them and claims he can teach them to fly out of there.
For the most part, the "story" is predictable, but the way it's told has such a smooth style it's very enjoyable. There's a lot of comedy here, both the generic slapstick but there's a lot of layers to satire that appear upon closer inspection. It's not the most thematic movie ever made, but there's nothing wrong with it either.
GRADE: B
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