Picture: Netflix / Aardman Animations
Arriving 23 years after its predecessor’s launch, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated movie of all-time, Chicken Run, which scored a Golden Globe nomination & Critics’ Choice win for Best Animated Feature again in 2001.
Created by the legendary workforce at Aardman Animations (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep), Dawn of the Nugget continues the studio’s robust Netflix manufacturing output, together with latest Oscar nominees Robin Robin and A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.
This new sequel catches up with the lead characters from the primary movie, Ginger & Rocky, a number of years after their daring escape from Tweedy Farms. Living in a peaceable island sanctuary created by Ginger, Rocky, & their fellow escapees, our leads have created their joyful ending collectively together with their sensible & curious daughter Molly.
While life appears serene & full for her mother and father, Molly yearns for greater than her small island environment. But when the adventurous spirit she inherited from her mother and father turns right into a quest for freedom, Molly quickly finds herself off the island and into the again of a truck heading to one of the crucial subtle rooster farms anybody has ever seen. Armed guards, thoughts management – this place has all of it … together with the considered destroyed rooster farm proprietor from the unique movie, Mrs. Melisha Tweedy.
Much like elevating a toddler, a jail break from a farm this spectacular will take a village. Led by Ginger, Rocky, & one of the best chickens & rats you may ask for, they’ll hatch a scheme to interrupt in and escape earlier than all of them flip to nuggets.
Directed by Sam Fell (Flushed Away, Paranorman), Dawn of the Nugget feels extra flash than story in comparison with the unique. While it does have some coronary heart within the type of a mother-daughter relationship on the crux of the daughter’s coming of age, the movie spends most of its time on the chase, transferring between motion/spy film set items & household film pratfalls. Mind you, these set items & pratfalls do delight at occasions and make the film’s runtime zip by; nonetheless, it additionally makes the character depth & the relationships very fundamental and the plot extremely predictable.
With this plan of action, the animation takes middle stage. In typical Aardman style, the cease movement is flawless with a depth & texture that separates them from their extra computer-generated competitors.
However, as a result of the film is ready at such a speedy tempo, we don’t get to luxuriate of their work that usually; But, when you think about the element and energy it takes to make use of their distinctive strategies to create such motion sequences, you’ll be able to’t assist however tip your cap to the masters of their area.
As for the screenplay, Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell are again from the unique writing employees with Rachel Tunnard (Military Wives) becoming a member of them this time round. While the primary movie was lauded for its feminist/pro-women spine & anti-fascist setting, this movie appears to have a extra turned down model of these themes with principally feminine characters doing the precise saving and male characters extra falling into fortunate bounces at occasions. The passing of the torch from Ginger to Molly and the cementing of their bond does preserve the movie grounded for probably the most half and locks it again into what issues most in a movie that will get a bit chase joyful in a extra mission crucial story.
Picture: Netflix
Much just like the earlier movie and different Aardman tasks, Dawn of the Nugget does function a deep roster of voice expertise headed by returning actors Imelda Staunton (“Bunty”), Jane Horrocks (“Babs”), & Miranda Richardson (“Mrs. Tweedy”), in addition to, newcomers Thandiwe Newton (“Ginger”), Bella Ramsey (“Molly”), & Zachary Levi taking up for Mel Gibson as Rocky.
Overall, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a profitable household movie that can certainly entertain with its constant motion, “Looney Tunes” wit, & mother-daughter bonding. However, it does appear extra sheen than substance total and extra discerning animated film followers, particularly in a formidable 12 months for the class, might discover this yet another fundamental than its predecessor & its more moderen friends. Aardman followers & authentic Chicken Run may get extra mileage with stellar, as all the time, stop-motion, acquainted voices, & related dry wit.
Watch Chicken Run 2 If You Like
- Chicken Run
- Wallace & Gromit
- Shaun the Sheep
- Brave
- Flushed Away
MVP of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Aardman Animations
If you informed me a sequel to an animated movie from over 20 years in the past was set to come back out on streaming, I might in all probability balk arduous at giving it my time. But whenever you inform me it’s from the legendary Aardman studio, I’ll all the time give it stronger consideration. Much like different small but notable grasp studios (Cartoon Saloon involves thoughts), Aardman all the time delivers a novel expertise with a bygone fashion introduced into the trendy age. With painstaking effort & meticulous element, Aardman artists carry such life to their work.
While this story is probably not as robust as their authentic movie, you’ll be able to’t deny the wealthy texture & spectacular design that brings a degree of visible delight that can fulfill households everywhere in the world.
A shinier & adventurous successor to the unique that brings extra motion & spycraft into the fold. However, it sacrifices a bit in character depth & emotion, which may depart audiences wishing they’d extra of the unique’s allure.