journal features

movie review - Wallace & Gromit

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 1997.01.31

Three excellent stop-motion short flicks by Nick Park. The first, The Wrong Trousers pits the dog Gromit and his hapless owener Wallace against a roomer they take in. The roomer is a penguin who robs banks. The animation has to be seen to be believed, and the story is funny as hell.

The second film was A Fine Day Out, in which Wallace & Gromit go to the moon on a day trip. This one is far more in the 'classic' animation style - more a purist's film than a cartoon like the first.

The third and finest of the films has Wallace meet the girl of his dreams. Unfortunatly, she is involved in a sheep rustling circle, and leads Wallace & Gromit into disaster. This one is the most amazing of the three - recalling that you're looking at plasticene is difficult when Gromit's flying sidecar starts strafing the dog food factory with porridge.

Strongly recommended.

rand()m quote

My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there.

—Indira Gandhi