“Chicken Run”
"Chicken Run" (G)DT: The following film is also based on a true story.
DM: Liar!
DT: Well not really, it just seemed like it would be fun to say it was. I'm sorry, I won't do it again.
From the creators of the Oscar winning shorts starring Wallace & Gromit comes this charming feature length claymation comedy about a group of chickens and their numerous attempts to escape from the prison that is Tweedy's farm. It stars the voices of Mel Gibson,Miranda Richardson, Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks.
Having seen all three of the Wallace and Gromit shorts, I had great expectations for this film and I was not disappointed. The story is filled with humor and adventure that both kids and adults will enjoy. There are also a few humorous nods to prison escape movies of the past including "The Great Escape," "Stalag 17" and "Papillon" not to mention a little "Raiders of the Lost Ark" to boot. While the plot might be predictable to the
experienced moviegoer, this film still proves to be an entertaining ride.
DM: You know, I remember thinking, "there's something I don't want to see when it comes out" when I first saw the trailer.
"Then, after time I thought, "That actually looks pretty entertaining."
Hey, Wallace & Gromit is, after all, a highly acclaimed TV series.
DT: Three short subjects to be more accurate.
DM: Yeah, whatever, I should have stuck with my first instincts. I truly believe that I let you influence my decision to see this one. You do, after all, idolize Wallace & Gromit as cartoon Hall-of-Fame material. Better than Scooby-Doo? Nonsense.
DT: I do not idolize "Wallace & Gromit." the fact that I changed my dog Emma's name to Gromit is purely coincidental.
DM: Actually, "Chicken Run" wasn't a bad movie, it just wasn't that great.
Kids won't get the references to all the afformentioned movies, and it's too childish for most adults.
Besides, I figure I've already seen enough species of the animal kingdom conquer the human race (does "Planet of the Apes" ring a bell.) Heck, I've seen bears, deer, dogs, sharks, bugs, slugs, birds, beasts, monkeys, pigs and even a bulldozer in that thriller-chiller, made for TV, 1970s special effect extravaganza "Killdozer" outwit the old human race.
So chickens ruling the roost didn't excite me. Mel Gibson's voice didn't excite me. the cartoonery didn't thrill me. The plot sure wasn't new and inventive. It was simply something I could have watched on Saturday morning with my kids. Free, for that matter. And it sure wasn't Scooby-Doo material.
DT: I agree with your last point, luckily this wasn't Scooby-Doo material, and I would also like to add, just in case anyone has an allergy, that "Chicken Run" is 100% Casey Kasem-free.
Score: DM 62, DT 84