Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this movie contains an evil robot, imperilled claymation sheep and some suspense. The comic special effects will get laughs from younger viewers, though may be too frightening for some, especially some motorcycle crashes. Even older kids (and adults) like to watch this one over and over again. A sinister tone and music (dark basement, creaking door, lurking bulldog) adds to the thematic intensity.
Families who watch this film may want to discuss how people present themselves as different than they are. How did Wallace get fooled by Windolene?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Nancy Warren
Sheep rustlers disturb Wallace and Gromit's peaceful town as a mysterious pest chews up their house. Before Gromit can solve the pest mystery, Wallace and Gromit must zoom off to wash a customer's windows. As Gromit scrubs, Wendolene dazzles inventor and window washer Wallace, who notes that her shop is unusually full of wool.
Upon returning home, the two discover the culprit, a sheep Wallace names Shorn. Wendolene's evil bulldog Preston frames Gromit for the sheep murders; Wallace frees Gromit from prison, and the final chase begins as the dynamic duo catch Wendolene and Preston in the act. Gromit and Shorn save Wallace, Wendolene, themselves and an entire flock from robot-dog Preston's "Mutton-o-matic" dog food machine.
Playing on themes (and theme music) from 1940s noir classics, A Close Shave appeals to everyone from preschoolers to seniors. Nick Parks deserves technical and creative kudos for his flawlessly animated clay creatures. As in Parks's other wonderful films, The Wrong Trousers and A Grand Day Out, Wallace's faulty and complicated inventions are a continual source of slapstick humor. Wallace has a machine that dumps him out of bed, drops him through a trapdoor to the kitchen, slaps his clothes on him and then automatically plops porridge into a bowl. When the machine malfunctions, Wallace wears the oatmeal.
While adults enjoy the comic timing, children delight in the action-adventure. One 4-year-old needed reassurance that "it wasn't real" and a 6-year-old began mimicking Wallace's toothy smile and British accent as soon as it was over. Both enjoyed Gromit's unique bungee jumping style of window washing.
While continuing the comedy-drama mix of The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave leans more toward action-adventure than mystery. Fans of the Wallace and Gromit tapes will also enjoy Creature Comforts, Chicken Run and A Grand Day Out.
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Violenceslapstick and some perilSome comic violence (automatic porridge machine shoots porridge at different characters, several near-crashes during motorcycle chases) and climactic violence that is more frightening (evil cyberdog tries to crush our heroes and a flock of innocent sheep in the jaws of his mutton-o-matic machine). |
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