Review of The Wrong Trousers (1993) by Harry W — 05 Jun 2014

The second in the series of Wallace and Gromit films, Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers works as another sufficiently terrific entry into franchise.

The first thing that makes Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers is the fact that is has animation which has stepped up since its predecessor. As A Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit was a small scale production which went on to give a significant boost to Nick Park's career, it is clear that producers have developed faith in him and then delivered better financing for him. He takes full advantage of that in Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers and gives the characters more detailed appearances and more organic movements. It makes the visual experience of Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers even better than the quality of A Ground Day Out with Wallace and Gromit. Nick Park manages to explore a lot of new techniques in terms of design with Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers and all kinds of new and inventive concepts which makes the project even more ambitious.

In terms of story, Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers doesn't degrade itself to being a childish story, nor does it stand simply as a film that relies solely on animation and nothing else. In actual fact, it maintains a zany story involving inventing pants which walk themselves and Gromit being betrayed by a criminal penguin. The story has all the clever humour needed as well as a touch of emotional drama, and above all it is not afraid to step into dark territory. The atmosphere of the film has a touch of darkness to it without being melodramatic, while the film itself is genuinely consistently funny. The slapstick gags manage to step it up in Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers, and they are as naturally funny as ever.

The voice work by Peter Sallis as Wallace also proves to be a delightful feature, as well as the fact that the tune of the theme song is as fun as ever. So Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers proves to be a treat on both the eyes and the ears for viewers of all ages.

Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers continues the success of the series and builds more positivity on the names of Wallace and Gromit, even going so far as to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. And as a visual experience, it just a delightful splendour.