First, I have to say, I can't believe I'm so irritated at bad reviews of this film. This is a comedy; nothing more, nothing less, and to say that "Chicken Run" contains only "British humor", as one user suggested, completely missed the point.

I appreciated "Chicken Run" even more than I imagine a child would. It's full of sight gags, puns, and "Star Trek" references. Eight-to-ten year old kids will love it, of course, but don't let that scare you. This film might be even more enjoyable for you than "Toy Story".

It's a kind of chicken "Great Escape". A group of hens, led by the fearless Ginger (voiced by Julia Sarwalha from "Absolutely Fabulous", decide to escape from their farm. As luck would have it, they meet just the rooster to help them: Rocky, a circus chicken (voiced by Mel Gibson). He's actually shot out of a cannon, but the hens see him as their only hope. Yes, the chickens are ugly. That's not the point. The point is in the writing, which is more even better than the "Toy Story" films or "Bug's Life"; both of which will be compared to this movie. The plotline reminded me somewhat of "A Bug's Life", but instead of being computer generated, "Chicken Run" is done by the makers of "Wallace and Grommit:, completely in stop-motion claymation. It might also be compared to "Titan A.E.", since the two came out in the same week, and like "Titan A.E.", this movie will be enjoyed by adults, but more specifically, a select group of adults with specific movie tastes. Yes, "Chicken Run" aims somewhat at the Monty Python crowd.

The dialogue is snappy and the jokes are fast and furious; almost aimed right over the kiddies' heads. Miranda Richardson is delightfully evil in practically every movie she does, as she is here as the farmer's wife. The story doesn't drag on one minute longer than it has to. The absurdity of talking chickens is pointed out rather cleverly in a bit of dialogue toward the end. It's self-referential, but in an amusing way. There's just enough wit to remind you that not all animated films have to be cute. In fact, you don't even have to take the kids.




Recommended:
Yes