From
Seattle Times art critic
Movie review
Sometimes a movie is exactly what you want it to be – nothing more, nothing less – and that's exactly the case with “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” a sequel nearly a quarter century in the making. While this film may not be quite as charming as the original 2000's Chicken Run (lightning rarely strikes twice, even on chicken farms), it's a real looker; It's basically “Mission: Impossible” performed by incredibly expressive clay chickens, and there's nothing wrong with that at all.
“Dawn of the Nugget,” from Aardman, the legendary British stop-motion animation studio, is essentially the same story as the original, but with a twist: in “Chicken Run,” our poultry crew escaped from a hellish chicken farm; in “Nugget” they merge into a whole. Ginger (voiced by Thandiwe Newton), the heroine of the original film, now lives a happy life with her fellow chickens on a paradise island where they grow fruit, knit sweaters and enjoy tea and biscuits like all good British chickens do. But when her daughter Molly (Bella Ramsey) falls under the spell of the local chicken factory, Funland Farms (whose cheerful signs promise a place where “chickens find their happy ending”), the ever-resourceful Ginger must organize a rescue mission.
It's no spoiler to say that, of course, she pulls it off with the help of her friends – after all, as this film shows us, no chicken is an island – and that there's a lot of goofy, beautifully animated fun (plus a few more). ). (surprisingly scary moments) that you can experience along the way. I particularly liked a strangely sad snail character, a wonderfully silly dance performed by Ginger's pal Rocky (Zachary Levi), a pair of rats who say things like “It's an impossible mission!” but in the end she plays a key role, and of course, Ginger herself, who I hope will be on my side if the apocalypse ever comes, and who wisely notes, “There's never no way out.” Long may they run.
“Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” ★★★ (out of four)
Featuring the voices of Thandiwe Newton, Bella Ramsey, Zachary Levi, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton. Directed by Sam Fell, based on a screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O'Farrell and Rachel Tunnard. 101 minutes. Rated PG for danger, action and some thematic elements. Begins streaming on Netflix on December 15th.
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