There is a part of me that yearns for silliness, and the adventures of Wallace and Gromit fulfill those yearnings. After three short films they are now in their first full-length feature, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Two of the previous shorts were reminiscent of the work of Alfred Hitchcock, but Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) embraces the classic horror film genre and throws in a large dose of British humor.
In this movie the world of Wallace and Gromit is expanded, there are many more characters, and the scope of their adventure is on a slightly grander scale. This time they form the Anti-Pesto team, saving the eccentric locals from a rabbit infestation which threatens their gardens on the very eve of the upcoming vegetable competition. Anti-Pesto’s humane solution to the problem (which includes using a “Bun-Vac” to suck the little blighters right out of the ground) suits Lady Tottington (voice by Helena Bonham Carter), who oversees the annual competition. She and Wallace (voice by Peter Sallis) begin an amusing flirtation which angers her jealous suitor, Victor Quartermaine (voice by Ralph Fiennes).
But soon the town vegetables are under attack from a “were-rabbit,” and there is talk of canceling the vegetable competition. It falls to Wallace and Gromit to capture the beast, which turns out to be a more complicated task than they anticipate. Their efforts are not aided by the interference of Victor Quartermaine, who would rather kill a rabbit rather than merely capture it. At first he seems to be just a twit with a toupee and a gun, but later becomes more desperate in his attempts to stop Anti-Pesto and get his hands on Lady Tottington’s estate.
And that’s enough of the plot. Anyone familiar with classic horror films will be able to see what’s coming, but what makes the movie fun is having the genre filtered through the minds of creator Nick Park and his co-director, Steve Box. There are so many fun little moments and throwaway gags, but I must resist resorting to list-making. People who are familiar with the short films of Wallace and Gromit will get the in-jokes, but the film can be enjoyed by those who are just discovering these characters.
The town locals add color to the story, especially Lady Tottington and Victor, but what really matters is the unique friendship between Wallace and Gromit. Wallace is a rather brilliant inventor, but his inventions have a way of causing unexpected trouble. Usually it is Gromit who comes to the rescue. I love that Gromit doesn’t speak. Of course he doesn’t; he’s a dog. I once threw away a book about screenwriting when it declared that complexity of character can only be created with dialogue. I disagree, and present Gromit as Exhibit A. Besides, Wallace talks enough for both of them. I’m sure Gromit would agree.
The entire story is told with tongue firmly in cheek. I think this film would fall into the category of “British eccentricity,” but that doesn’t keep it from being accessible. I don’t imagine that the style of humor in this movie will be to everyone’s liking, but I remember laughing pretty hard when I saw it in the theater. (Interestingly, this was the second stop-motion animation film release in two weeks, following Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, which is also enchanting, but in an entirely different way.) I have so many favorite moments, but what it boils down to is this: I enjoyed every moment. It’s a bloody good show.
