Chicken Run = excellent!

My review from <a href=http://nicktheshadow.tsx.org/>my messageboard</a>:

JUST TELL ME IF IT'S GOOD OR BAD

This one is a gem.

PROS

I'm not a big fan of Claymation. I don't pretend to be. I'm not all nuts about it like I am with CG animation. However, I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with Chicken Run on all levels.

First, the animation. On a technical level, it's spectacular, or so it seems to me - as I mentioned, I'm just an ordinary layman when it comes to Claymation, and not a nitpicky know-it-all bastard like I am with CG who pays attention to every damn texture.

Thankfully, and much to my delight, this film succeeds where Dinosaur completely flopped: it isn't all looks and no substance. In fact, this film has about as much substance as I've seen in an animated film. The wittiness of the screenplay, the closeness of the characters to the audience that gets developed throughout the story, and even the general premise itself is marvelous. In that respect, I found this film to be even better than last year's The Iron Giant, and probably even on a level with the absolutely adorable masterpiece that was Toy Story 2. It's good to see that Pixar isn't the only animation studio with half a brain on the creative staff, and that Aardman is still in action.

The premise, while based on elements that are clearly from Babe and A Bug's Life, emitted the distinct impression of originality. Farm animals trying to escape their destiny as a future Tuesday night dinner - that's from Babe; a resourceful, cunning leader of the bunch who erroneously relies on a fradulent circus performer for help and eventually gets everybody to end up building an aircraft - that's obviously from A Bug's Life. But when the two are combined, you get the work of art that is Chicken Run. Using the medium of Claymation, the already soaring charm of this film that comes from this premise is magnified tenfold.

The screenplay is witty as hell. Although the characters are written around simple frameworks, one grows to cherish them individually simply because of their exaggerated dominant traits. Fowler, the RAF veteran rooster and Babs, the hen with a peculiar penchant for knitting were two of my favorites. The voice acting only served to hold up to the script and keep the consistency of the tone of the film dead-on perfect.

Chicken Run is one of the funniest comedies I've seen in a long time - and to add to that, it's not just funny, like films such as Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It has substance and meaning. It speaks of life and death situations. It speaks of the meaning of freedom. It speaks of honesty. And best of all, the serious moments do not take away from the comic feel of the film; in fact, the two are intertwined seamlessly.

The musical score? Well, in short, I'm buying the soundtrack as soon as I can get my wings - er, hands on it.

This is one lovely, charming film and it is certainly worth several repeat viewings from me. It's a pity that most people will overlook this gem. If there is any justice in this world, Chicken Run will be remembered as one of this decade's great classics.

CONS

There's a few overly cartoonish implausabilities here and there - not to spoil anything, but how Mrs. Tweedy could take all the punishment she did in the last twenty minutes or so of the movie and still survive is rather stunning. And the pie machine featured in this film is certainly quite the work of fantasy. However, these setbacks aren't really even setbacks at all, because the nature of the film is rather cartoonish unto itself. The entire concept of intelligent scheming chickens is implausible, yet hilarious. ("It's all in me head.") So this is not really a bad thing, but simply filler for the CONS section.

OVERALL

I'd have to say Aardman laid a golden egg with this one. If you liked A Bug's Life, you'll love Chicken Run - and I adored A Bug's Life.

This is truly THE animated film to see this year. I await something to top it.