Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Last updated

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Vengeance Most Fowl poster.jpg
Official Netflix release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by Mark Burton
Story by
  • Nick Park
  • Mark Burton
Based on Wallace & Gromit
by Nick Park
Produced byRichard Beek
Starring
Music by Lorne Balfe (score)
Julian Nott (themes)
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 27 October 2024 (2024-10-27)(AFI)
  • 25 December 2024 (2024-12-25)(BBC)
  • 3 January 2025 (2025-01-03)(Netflix)
Running time
79 minutes [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is a 2024 British stop motion animated comedy film produced by Aardman Animations and directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, featuring Park's characters from the Wallace & Gromit series. It is the sixth Wallace & Gromit film overall, the first since A Matter of Loaf and Death in 2008 and the second feature-length film following The Curse of the Were-Rabbit in 2005, serving as a full-length sequel to The Wrong Trousers (1993). [2]

Contents

The film premiered at the American Film Institute on 27 October 2024 [3] and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 25 December 2024 in the United Kingdom, and will become available on Netflix internationally on 3 January 2025. [4] [5] [6] The film has received universal acclaim from critics, gaining a 100% rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.

Premise

Gromit's concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified when Wallace invents a "smart" gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master ... or Wallace may never be able to invent again!

— Netflix [7]

Voice cast

Appearing silent are Gromit, Wallace's brave and highly intelligent pet beagle and best friend, and Feathers McGraw, a penguin and criminal mastermind. [12]

Additionally, Adjoa Andoh and Lenny Henry appear in cameo roles as The Judge and Mr. Convenience. [13]

Production

During production of the A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008), Nick Park remarked publicly on difficulties with working with DreamWorks Animation during the production of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), such as the constant production notes and demands to alter the material to appeal more to American children. [14] [15] This discouraged him from producing another feature film for years, with Peter Lord noting that Park preferred the "half hour format". [16]

A new Wallace & Gromit film was announced in January 2022, with Park and Merlin Crossingham as directors, from a screenplay by Mark Burton, while Claire Jennings was announced to produce. [17] [18]

The factory that made Lewis Newplast, the modelling clay used by Aardman, shut down in March 2023; Aardman purchased enough remaining clay to cover the new Wallace & Gromit film. [19] The Daily Telegraph initially reported that the studio may not be able to produce new films afterwards due to a lack of clay, but Aardman later released a statement clarifying that it would find a new supplier. [20] [21]

The film's title was confirmed to be Vengeance Most Fowl on 6 June 2024, alongside the reveal that Feathers McGraw, the antagonist of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1993), would return. At that time, Richard Beek was announced to have replaced Claire Jennings as the producer. [22]

Music

The film's score was composed by Lorne Balfe, replacing the franchise's longtime recurring composer Julian Nott. Balfe previously provided additional music for Nott's score in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). [23]

Release

The film premiered worldwide on the closing day of the AFI Fest on 27 October at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with a limited theatrical release set for 18 December 2024. [24] The film will then air in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 25 December 2024, and release outside of the UK on Netflix on 3 January 2025. [4] [25] [26] [17] [18] To promote the film, the BBC also commissioned three Wallace & Gromit-themed Christmas idents for BBC One, to be aired throughout the holiday season. [27] [28]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 100% of 43 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10.The website's consensus reads: "Comforting as cheese and crackers, with some gentle ribbing of modern technology sprinkled on top, Vengeance Most Fowl revives this lovable pair with all their charm intact." [29] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [30]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 20 November 2024 Best Original Score – Animated Film Lorne Balfe & Julian Nott Nominated [31]
Astra Film Awards 8 December 2024 Best Animated FeatureWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlNominated [32]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 8 December 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [33]
San Diego Film Critics Society 9 December 2024 Best Animated Film Nominated [34]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 11 December 2024 Best Animated Film Nominated [35]
Chicago Film Critics Association 12 December 2024 Best Animated Film Nominated [36]
St. Louis Film Critics Association 15 December 2024 Best Animated Feature Runner-up [37]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle 15 December 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [38]
New York Film Critics Online 16 December 2024Best AnimationNominated [39]
Seattle Film Critics Society 16 December 2024 Best Animated Film Nominated [40]
Golden Globe Awards 5 January 2025 Best Animated Feature Film Pending [41]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 12 January 2025 Best Animated Feature Film Pending [42]
American Cinema Editors Awards 18 January 2025 Best Edited Animated Feature Film (Theatrical or Non-Theatrical) Dan HemberyPending [43]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists TBABest Animated FilmWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlPending [44]

Related Research Articles

Wallace & Gromit is a British stop-motion animated comedy franchise created by Nick Park and produced by Aardman Animations. The series centres on Wallace, a good-natured, eccentric, cheese-loving inventor, and Gromit, his loyal and intelligent anthropomorphic beagle. It consists of four short films, two feature-length films and has spawned numerous spin-offs and TV adaptations. The first short film, A Grand Day Out, was finished and released in 1989. Wallace was voiced by actor Peter Sallis until 2010 when he was succeeded by Ben Whitehead. While Wallace speaks very often, Gromit is largely silent and has no dialogue, communicating through facial expressions and body language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aardman Animations</span> British animation studio and production company

Aardman Animations Limited, stylised as AARDMAN since 2022, is a British animation studio based in Bristol. It is known for films and television series made using stop motion and clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring its plasticine characters from Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep, and Morph. After some experimental computer-animated short films during the late 1990s, beginning with Owzat (1997), Aardman entered the computer animation market with Flushed Away (2006). As of February 2020, it had earned $1.1 billion worldwide, with an average $135.6 million per film. Between 2000 and 2006, Aardman partnered with DreamWorks Animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Park</span> English filmmaker (born 1958)

Nicholas Wulstan Park is an English filmmaker and animator who created Wallace & Gromit, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep, and Early Man. Park has been nominated for an Academy Award a total of six times and won four with Creature Comforts (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993), A Close Shave (1995) and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).

<i>The Wrong Trousers</i> 1993 short film by Nick Park

The Wrong Trousers is a 1993 British stop-motion animated short film co-written and directed by Nick Park, produced by Aardman Animations in association with Wallace and Gromit Ltd., BBC Bristol, Lionheart Television and BBC Children's International. It is the second film featuring the titular duo, eccentric inventor Wallace and his dog Gromit, following A Grand Day Out (1989). In the film, a villainous penguin, Feathers McGraw, posing as a lodger, recruits Wallace by using his techno-trousers to steal a diamond from the city museum.

<i>A Grand Day Out</i> 1989 animated short film

A Grand Day Out is a 1989 British stop-motion animated short film and the first instalment in the Wallace & Gromit series. It was directed, animated and co-written by Nick Park at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield and Aardman Animations in Bristol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Sallis</span> English actor (1921–2017)

Peter John Sallis was an English actor. He was the original voice of Wallace in the Academy Award-winning Wallace & Gromit films and played Norman "Cleggy" Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine from its 1973 inception until the final episode in 2010, making him the only actor to appear in all 295 episodes. Additionally, he portrayed Norman Clegg's father in the prequel series First of the Summer Wine.

<i>Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit</i> 2005 animated film by Nick Park and Steve Box

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a 2005 animated comedy film directed by Nick Park and Steve Box. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation in collaboration with Aardman Animations. It was the second feature-length film by Aardman, after Chicken Run (2000). The film debuted in Sydney, Australia on 4 September 2005, before being released in theaters in the United States on 7 October 2005 and in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Sproxton</span> Co-founder of Aardman Animations studio (born 1954)

David Alan Sproxton is a British entrepreneur, best known as one of the co-founders, with Peter Lord, of the Aardman Animations studio. Sproxton was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 17 June 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Lord</span> British animator

Peter Duncan Fraser Lord CBE is a British animator, director, producer and co-founder of the Academy Award-winning Aardman Animations studio, an animation firm best known for its clay-animated films and shorts, particularly those featuring plasticine duo Wallace & Gromit. He also directed Chicken Run along with Nick Park from DreamWorks Animation, and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! from Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation which was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.

Steven Royston Box is an English animator and director who works for Aardman Animations.

Carla Shelley is an English producer for Aardman Animations and Birdbox Studio.

<i>A Matter of Loaf and Death</i> 2008 animated short film directed by Nick Park

Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death is a 2008 British stop motion animated short film produced by Aardman Animations and created by Nick Park. It is the fourth short to star the titular characters of the Wallace & Gromit series, the first one since A Close Shave in 1995.

<i>Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit</i> (video game) 2005 platform video game

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a platform video game developed by Frontier Developments and published by Konami. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. It was released in 2005 in North America in September, Europe and Australia in October, and in Japan the following year on 16 March 2006 for the PlayStation 2. It is based on the film of the same name by DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Animations.

Christopher Sadler is a British animator, director and writer. He is primarily known for his work on Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Rex the Runt, Cracking Contraptions, Creature Comforts and Shaun the Sheep.

Diane Morgan is an English actress, comedian and writer. She has portrayed Philomena Cunk on the review programme Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe (2013–2020) and in the mockumentary series Cunk on Britain (2018) and Cunk on Earth (2022). She also played Liz on the BBC Two sitcom Motherland (2016–2022) and Kath in the Netflix dark comedy series After Life (2019–2022), as well as writing and starring in the BBC Two comedy series Mandy (2019–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic</span> Amusement park in England

Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic is an indoor family dark ride at the Pleasure Beach Resort, an Amusement park in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It opened in 2013, replacing The Gold Mine ride which opened in 1971 at a cost of £150,000, which closed in 2011. It is based on the Wallace & Gromit films and was opened in April 2013 by Nick Park, Amanda Thompson, Nick Thompson, Nick Farmer and Merlin Crossingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gromit Unleashed 2</span> Public arts trail

Gromit Unleashed 2 was a public arts trail in Bristol, England. The trail featured 67 giant sculptures designed by high-profile artists, designers, innovators and local talent. Sculptures are positioned in high footfall and iconic locations around Bristol and the surrounding area from 2 July to 2 September 2018. A sequel to Gromit Unleashed in 2013, the trail featured statues of Wallace on a life-size bench, Gromit, and Feathers McGraw. On the 23rd of August 2023 a fourth trail was announced, the trail in Bristol will run in 2025.

Aardman Animations is an animation studio in Bristol, England that produces stop motion and computer-animated features, shorts, TV series and adverts.

Michael Peter Rose OBE is a British film producer and co-founder of Magic Light Pictures, a London-based independent film production company. In 2023 Rose was awarded the OBE for services to animation.

References

  1. ↑ Sandwell, Ian (29 August 2024). "BBC reveals first look at new Wallace & Gromit character after 14 years away". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "From Feathers McGraw to Mr Burns: kids' TV's all-time evillest villains". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: Here's release date, where to watch, trailer and plot". The Economic Times . The Feed. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 Evans, Greg. "First trailer for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl sees old enemy return". The Independent . Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ↑ McNamee, Michael Sheils (7 June 2024). "Wallace and Gromit return to face penguin nemesis". BBC News BBC. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ↑ Hibbs, James (6 June 2024). "Wallace & Gromit's Christmas 2024 return adds Peter Kay, Reece Shearsmith". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ↑ DiLillo, John (7 June 2024). "In Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, a Foul Foe Returns". Netflix. What is Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl about?. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024– via Tudum. Aardman's four-time Academy Award-winning director Nick Park and Emmy Award-nominated Merlin Crossingham return with a brand-new epic adventure, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. In this next installment, Gromit's concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a "smart" gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master … or Wallace may never be able to invent again!
  8. ↑ "Wallace & Gromit return with Vengeance Most Fowl". British Comedy Guide. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024. Peter Kay will return to voice PC Mackintosh, the character who previously appeared in The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. Mackintosh has now been promoted to Chief Inspector.
  9. ↑ "BBC unveils first look at Norbot the smart gnome, coming this Christmas in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl". BBC. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (12 October 2024). ""Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' Creators Promise Emotional Comeback: "We're Going To Make Everybody Cry And Laugh" — Contenders London". Deadline. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Review: Aardman's Beloved Duo Return With a Zippy, Gorgeously Animated Netflix Caper". The Hollywood Reporter. 27 October 2024.
  12. ↑ Ritman, Alex (6 June 2024). "New 'Wallace & Gromit' Netflix Film Reveals Christmas Premiere, Title and Teaser Showing Return of Villain Feathers McGraw". Variety. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "BBC unveils exclusive Wallace & Gromit themed Christmas idents". BBC. 30 November 2024.
  14. ↑ Farndale, Nigel (18 December 2008). "Wallace and Gromit: one man and his dog" . The Daily Telegraph . UK. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "Wallace and Gromit return to TV". BBC News. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  16. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (4 May 2017). "Aardman's Peter Lord "Absolutely Assumes" There Will Be More 'Wallace & Gromit'". Yahoo! UK. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  17. 1 2 King, Jack (20 January 2022). "New 'Wallace and Gromit' Movie to Premiere On Netflix In 2024 and Here's the First Synopsis". Collider . Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  18. 1 2 Ritman, Alex (20 January 2022). "New Wallace & Gromit Film in Works From Aardman/Netflix; Chicken Run 2 Cast and Title Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  19. ↑ Hughes, William (19 November 2023). "Chicken Run studio Aardman is apparently running out of clay". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  20. ↑ Collin, Robbie (17 November 2023). "Aardman is about to run out of clay – now the Chicken Run creators face a crisis". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  21. ↑ Kanter, Jake (20 November 2023). "'Wallace & Gromit' Studio Aardman Forced To Deny That It's Running Out Of Clay". Deadline. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "BBC reveals exciting new details of Wallace and Gromit's Christmas 2024 feature film return". BBC. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  23. ↑ Reporter, Film Music (1 August 2024). "Aardman Animations' 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' to Feature Music by Lorne Balfe". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  24. ↑ Debruge, Peter (27 October 2024). "'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' Review: Feathers Returns in What Could Have Been a Perfectly Charming Short". Variety. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  25. ↑ "World Premiere of WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL to Debut at AFI FEST presented by Canva". American Film Institute. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: What we know about release date, plot, voice cast and creative team". The Economic Times . The Feed. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  27. ↑ "BBC announces Christmas Day air date and releases trailer for the return of Wallace and Gromit". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  28. ↑ "BBC unveils exclusive Wallace & Gromit themed Christmas idents". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  29. ↑ "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  31. ↑ Willman, Chris (6 November 2024). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards Noms Led by 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Blitz,' With Elton John, Hans Zimmer and Scores More Among the Nominees". Hollywood Music in Media Awards . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  32. ↑ Pond, Steve (25 November 2024). "'Wicked' Leads Nominations for Astra Film Awards". TheWrap . Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  33. ↑ "Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2024 Nominations" . Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  34. ↑ Neglia, Matt (6 December 2024). "The 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  35. ↑ Childress, Erik, ed. (10 December 2024). "Brady Corbet's THE BRUTALIST Leads With Nine Nominations At Chicago Film Critics Association 2024 Awards". Chicago Film Critics Association . Retrieved 11 December 2024. …two categories…a tie vote and six total nominees are named: Best Film and Best Original Score. Other nominations unique to the CFCA include Chicago's own Keith Kupferer nominated for Best Actor (GHOSTLIGHT) and two nominations for the indie sleeper hit HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS.
  36. ↑ "The 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  37. ↑ "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  38. ↑ "2024 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". AwardsWatch. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  39. ↑ "The 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  40. ↑ Josh (6 December 2024). "Seattle Film Critics Society announce 2024 nominees". The SunBreak . Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  41. ↑ Zahed, Ramin (9 December 2024). "Six Animated Movies Are Nominated for the 2025 Golden Globes Awards" . Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  42. ↑ Evans, Greg (12 December 2024). "Conclave And Wicked Lead Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations – Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  43. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (28 October 2024). "Jon M. Chu, Maysie Hoy And Paul Hirsch Set For ACE Eddie Awards Honors". Deadline. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  44. ↑ "The 2024 EDA Award Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists . 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
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