DVD : Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2 Disc Special Edition) [2005]

Rating: - Avoid - Buy something else
How can anyone find this movie funny? Maybe it is OK if you are a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, but if you are used to American movies such as Over the Hedge, it is dull, dull, dull. Nowhere near as good as Over the Hedge or Madagascar.

Everything starts with everyone in the town looking forward to a vegetable competiton, but that all changes when a few rabbits are on the loose, and Wallace is the Were-Rabbit (quite scary for youngsters) believe it or not. The veg competiton then turns into a big battle between Gromit, another dog Phillip, Lady Tottington and the Were-Rabbit (Wallace.) I thought the movie would bew abseloutely fantastic, but I found that I could not get a single laugh out of it. Do not buy, just get the famous Over the Hedge.

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Rating: - Oooh I do like a bit of gorgonzola
As the annual vegetable competition draws nearer, Wallace and Gromit are in charge of protecting the town's vegetables, but a vegetable monster is causing havoc for the famous British animated characters.

Audiences were treated with some wonderful animated shorts involving a barmy inventor and his faithful companion in half an hour adventures, and then after 5 years in the making, we were treated to a visually stunning, fun and clever film.

The animation and visual effects are as wonderful as you could hope for, even outclassing a number of Pixar films, and those 5 years weren't wasted as Wallace and Gromit won an Oscar for Best Animated film.

The plot and humour, though not perfect, are thoroughly enjoyable and contribute largely to the overall feel good entertaining factor, which makes a wonderful family film. The physical comedy and the "cracking" catchphrases are all perfect fun. Though funny, the comic technique is repetitive which can be slightly annoying if you don't like that particular style.

The whole narrative is amusing as Wallace and Gromit are again a great leading duo and carry the plot with their dialogue and comedy. Their relationship has developed into a heart warming portrayal of loyalty and love and is hard to imagine one without the other. Gromit is perhaps more funny in the film, but Wallace is more interesting to watch.

There are plenty of jokes to amuse the younger generations but watch out for a couple of adult jokes which will stay in your memory long after you've finished watching.

As with the animated shorts, there is mystery and a great sense of excitement behind the plot which will keep you hooked right to the dramatic and thrilling climax.

After a couple of views the film starts to wear off, and flaws can start appearing.

Nevertheless, it is still funny and has plenty of quality to entertain and dazzle the family.

8/10

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Rating: - Lots of hilarious jokes for the grown-ups
Absolutely brilliant from beginning to end (don't miss the closing credits). If anything adults will get more out of the film than children - Ralph Fiennes fans in particular will enjoy the scene in which Victor is divested of his trousers, surely a reference to Mr Fiennes' fondness for showing his bottom in almost every film he makes...

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Rating: - Clever, sly, innocent and very funny
That cheese-loving, dim-witted inventor Wallace and his long-suffering, resourceful mutt Gromit have made a great transition from 30 minute shorts to an 85 minute feature. It's one of the funniest, slyest and most innocent comedies around, and one of the most action-filled, too. Wallace and Gromit run a pest control business. People have hired them to catch all the bunnies that are chomping up their vegetables. This is vital because the annual veggie contest and fair given by Lady Tottingham is only days away. Through indescribable circumstances a bunny is turned into a giant were-rabbit and Wallace and Gromit are on the case. But then, in an amazing twist, the were-rabbit is...but you'd better see the movie.

Believe me, while children will love the film, this is a movie, just as Chicken Run was, for adults of all ages. The inventions are so rococo they probably need to be seen twice to be really appreciated. Allusions to horror movies and their stars, from King Kong to Lon Chaney, Jr. to Ernest Thesiger, are scattered all over the place. The puns and visual gags fly fast and loose. In the Wensleydale-loving Wallace's library are just briefly seen copies of, among other fine books, East of Edam and Fromage to Eternity. When Wallace loses his clothes and has only a cardboard produce box to protect his modesty from Lady Tottingham, you have to be quick to catch a glimpse of a small warning label glued on the box, "May contain nuts." And when Lady Tottingham invites Wallace to her private garden and shows him her prize melons.... But don't frown; it's all smile-inducing innocence.

Gromit may be silent, but everyone else speaks and the actors voicing the parts are exceptional. Peter Sallis, now 84, continues to be the voice of Wallace. Helena Bonham Carter does Lady Tottingham. Ralph Fiennes does Victor Quartermaine and is completely unexpected. Anyone who can only picture Fiennes as primarily a serious actor who isn't too funny, as I have, needs to see this movie. Quartermaine is an upper-class twit, loud, dense, eager to hunt down and blow away the were-rabbit and anything else. Fiennes really is funny and nails the character. If you didn't know it was him you'd swear the voice belonged to some awful caricature of upper-class British oafdom.

This is a clever, funny movie.

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Rating: - Another great from Aardman!
Ha ha! I don't really think i got to listen to much of this film because i seemed to be laughing so much during it. Like many Aardman there are many subtle things added in that don't stand out but when you notice them they are extremely funny. That is why you should buy it on DVD, so that you can watch it more than once and notice these little details. There are some fantasticly thought out lines that will keep any age group entertained! The story line is great, a village bonkers about a vegetable growing cmpetition. The villager's preperations are ruined though by a Ware rabbit so 'Anti-pesto', Wallace and Grommit's vegetable guarding buisness are called to investigate. I won't explain any more as you will enjoy it greatly if you watch it. 10/10