by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who is ready for the latest movie from Aardman Animations? This little British studio has brought so much joy to the world of cinema in the decades of their operations. They created Wallace & Gromit,who have highlighted some of the greatest animated short films of all time, as well as an absolute feature classic in the 2000s. Shaun the Sheep has picked up that charm and run with it into plenty of shorts, as well as two nearly perfect animated romps. But one of their most beloved projects was about a bunch of chickens, channeling The Great Escape. There is great news too! There is a whole new Chicken Run coming our way on Netflix… Dawn of the Nugget!
Where does this new adventure bring Ginger (Thandiwe Newton), Rocky (Zachary Levi), and the rest of the chicken gang from the first film? Parenthood! The biggest addition is Ginger and Rocky have a child, Molly (Bella Ramsey), who is rambunctious, adventurous, and quite the handful for her parents. When Molly runs away from their safe, secluded island and ends up in a new-age farm for chickens, the plot goes on the road and delivers a rescue mission. This is a nice shakeup from the first film, which is very much about the escape. And who doesn’t love a good heist film? The plot might have a few too many turns, and it might struggle with a fourth act structure, but overall, it is a fantastically fun romp that audiences should be able to get behind.
Does director Sam Fell capture the spirit of the first Chicken Run? That is what feels so right this time around. This sequel has Aardman’s beautiful claymation style, and still captures the charm of their previous works. Dawn of the Nugget just has such a fun and clever way about it, which only Aardman can produce, as there are few creators who can make dumb characters and pure silliness so funny and engaging on screen. There are plenty of great sight gags as well, along with the wonderful slapstick of seeing a bunch of clay creatures getting up to shenanigans. But overall, the animation is just pitch-perfect, and captures the warmth and charm of Aardman’s best work.
How does the voice cast match everything else in the film? The filmmakers made the controversial choice to not bring back the original duo of Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson. There are other reasons for excluding Gibson, but doing the same to Sawalha was a shame. However, Newton gives plenty of effort into being warm, brave, and strong in her portrayal of Ginger, and it works. Oddly enough, Gibson is sorely missed this time around. Levi just doesn’t click or stand out, as he lacks the energy and charisma of Gibson’s Rocky. Ramsey is a great addition, and they hold their own in stretches of this film. Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, and Jane Horrocks are delightfully back in their roles as some of the supporting ladies. David Bradley and Daniel Mays stand out filling in as Fowler and Fetcher. You even have a fun couple of new additions, like Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Peter Serafinowicz, and Nick Mohammed. There are even a few surprises, as well.
Is Dawn of the Nugget a worthy sequel to the Aardman classic? Yes! It was worth the wait! Some of the recasting might not be up to par, and the adventure might not feel as fresh, but this sequel has so much that comes together to create a charming animated experience. Aardman still has it, and hopefully it is not another 20-plus years until another adventure with our favorite avian friends.
Rating: Liked It
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is streaming on Netflix on December 15
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