Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-bfi-review/ "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a satisfying sequel that should please its target audience. The new cast bears the responsibility of successfully keeping the iconic characters recognizable while maintaining the unique charm of the original film. It takes time to get into the right rhythm and lacks greater narrative creativity, but the hilarious physical comedy and one-liners, stupendous animation, and unforgettable score remain intact elements in a world much larger than the previous chicken farm. Whether adults or children, nostalgic fans of the original or not, it's an excellent family flick to watch during this Christmas season." Rating: B

So now that our intrepid band of chickens have escaped the menacing clutches of "Mrs. Tweedy", they set up home on a peaceful little island. Thing is, their feathered brethren on the mainland are in even more danger than they were before, and when "Ginger" finds out the gang decide to launch a daring raid on a new, state of the art, factory that has one single purpose: to turn chickens into nuggets! Sneaking in, they quickly discover that the entire population are well fed and kept in good conditions - but they are also all controlled by radio controlled collars that ensure they do the bidding of... well...you can guess. Can they thwart the dastardly plan to cover the entire flock in breadcrumbs? I didn't especially like the combination of animation styles here. The traditional Aardman stop-motion characters are still there in abundance but surrounded by quite a lot of rather linear looking CGI. That rather sterilises the look of the story which, itself, is really far too strung out. The film is just half an hour too long and maybe just a little too formulaic as well. Still, it extols all the virtues of teamwork and loyalty, the script is quite entertaining at times and the gadgets and slightly slapstick nature of the humour, with a touch of "007"-style menace, does make it worth a watch. Not their best, but still quite good.

Whilst not as entertaining as its predecessor, 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget' produces whats necessary to create a solid effort. I'm no fan of recasting, especially when it comes to voice acting, but I can't deny Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi are good enough replacements for (the superior, still) Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson. Elsewhere on the cast, Bella Ramsey is a plus - as are, albeit more minorly, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays and Josie Sedgwick-Davies. A few do reprise their roles fwiw, e.g. Jane Horrocks. I doubt I'll want to come back and rewatch this even once, though I can still acknowledge that this is a more than decent watch given I had a positive time with it across 90 or so minutes. It features pleasant animation also, as expected.