Review of Chicken Run (2000) by Anthony P — 05 Jan 2013

Chicken Run - A great comedy that has enough to offer for all ages, despite its seemingly childish shell. Underneath that shell is a deep film, filled with rich characters and a large amount of humor.

The chickens in Chicken Run are personified to be smart, organized and relatable creatures. The title refers to the chicken's attempt to escape from the farm they are currently a part of. This movie is really like the Great Escape, but instead of humans trying to free themselves, we have chickens.

There is an actual present of threat in Chicken Run. The owners of the farm are not fooling around. As the film begins, we become aware of this; a chicken gets its head chopped off. What a lovely way to begin a children's film. That's not all that Chicken Run is though. Despite it being a charming, clay-animation, family-friendly film, Chicken Run is appealing to all audiences. This is due to it being an incredibly deep film, while still managing to give everyone who watches it something to look for.

Take the younger people, for example. They'll fall in love with some of the chickens, possibly all of them. Each major chicken is given a distinct, eccentric personality. Ginger is the most memorable one, as we spend the most time with this courageous hen, but we also get to know about some of the other chickens. There is a scientific one, a war veteran, as well as a ditzy one. All the bases are covered when it comes to stereotypes.

It is also really funny. From the personalities of the chickens, to the farmers, to the dialogue, everything that happens is funny. There aren't many jokes, but the back-and-forth between the chickens allows it to remain a quotable and memorable film.

The most noticeable thing about Chicken Run, at least, right off the bat, is the fact that it is stop-motion animated. Clay is used in this case, and it gives the film a charming feel right off the bat, even if the events depicted on screen are less than charming. The animation is wonderful, being smooth in nature and incredibly well done. The models used look great, and the personified chickens will give children something to look at, as well as give the adults a work of art to admire and appreciate.

Review Number: 20.