Review of Chicken Run (2000) by Phil T — 31 May 2010
This, the first feature film from genius claymators Nick Park and Peter Lord brims with all the wit, excitement, and fun that made their short films â?? among which are the "Creature Comforts" and "Wallace & Grommit" installments â?? so popular.
A clever riff on "The Great Escape", "Chicken Run" tells the tale of a community of hens trying to fly the coup (literally) before their farmer's chicken-pie-machine is operational and they all become minced meat (literally).
The characters are vivid and well portrayed by the mostly British cast, but the script is the star here. Rife with humourous banter â?? though perhaps with a few too many puns than would be advisable â?? and dozens of allusions ranging from "Stalag 17" to "Star Trek", it provides wall-to-wall laughs.
More important is its intelligent structure, which, predictable though the plot may be, builds at a rate that holds us all the way, tied together with some beautifully edited montages.
This review of Chicken Run (2000) was written by Phil T on 31 May 2010.
Chicken Run has generally received positive reviews.
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