Starting out this review with yet another confession. Prior to their latest adventure, I haven't seen any of the various films and shorts with "Wallace and Gromit". I've seen "Chicken Run" as a kid, but I haven't really acquainted myself with Aardman's trademark stop motion clay animated works. Compared to what I had going on at the time and the other works being released, it didn't seem to be a high priority to look at their body of work. I've rectified that today and I'm glad I took that plunge. I regret not giving Aardman's works their due.
Coming from a newcomer, the titular duo's newest offering, "Vengeance Most Fowl" offers a nice little diversion for kids and adults alike in equal measure. Wallace has been plugging away at one invention after another at the expense of many unpaid bills. That is until his new invention Norbot, a robotic garden gnome, is showcased to Gromit alongside his neighbors and the press. Wallace is highly ecstatic that his invention is an overwhelming success. He's convinced that things are on the up and up, while Gromit is a bit more skeptical.
That's until a former nemesis in the form of penguin Feathers McGraw escapes from prison and hacks into Wallace's computer system. Now the Norbot is working under Feathers' protocol and has created a mass army of fellow Norbots to do his bidding. They work together to set up Wallace and Gromit for being the culprits behind a stolen diamond from long ago. It's up to our two leads to restore order and get the Norbots back under their control. You don't need prior knowledge of the "Wallace and Gromit" franchise to have a good time here.
From what I saw, this is one of those series in the veins of "Winnie the Pooh" where you can jump in and start anywhere you like without being lost. And in this day and age of neverending sequels, remakes and spin-offs, that distinction is always appreciated and never taken for granted. The animation is actually more impressive than you might give it credit for. Obviously, the painstaking process behind this clay animation is noticeable. Between the amount of small moving details and the lush backgrounds in each scene, there's much to admire visually.
Adults will find a solid dosage of cheeky humor here, such as the Norbots and the quality of the lawn maintenance work they put out. There's two police officer side characters that enjoy some humorous moments as well. There honestly isn't much to talk about with this one, except that it works for what it is. This isn't a trailblazer quite like "Flow" is. It has a familiar plot that you see in most family films. A few cliches most films have are found here as well. But on the whole, "Vengeance Most Fowl" is certainly worthy of your time on Netflix.
Final Verdict: 8/10
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