Good, but more for children than adults

Rating: 8/10 (5 March 2001)

I love Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit shorts, so I couldn't wait to see Chicken Run. Unfortunately, animated movies are considered kids' fare, so Chicken Run is forced to focus on the kids more than the adults (although one has to wonder why a comment about "over-sexed" Americans made its way into the script), as opposed to the sly silliness and unpredictability of Park's W&G stories. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the movie, but it seems like Park betrayed his fans to make a successful "family film."
Strangely enough, some moments--some KEY moments--seem destined to fly over kids' heads. For example, when the revelation is made about Rocky's flying ability, what has been obvious to most viewers for some time is finally made know to the rest. But the explanation consists of a brief glimpse at a poster and a semi-scientific quip about thrust. So if we're going to get a vague explanation for such an obvious secret, why make it a secret at all? If this is meant to build suspense, it should not have been so predictable. (It works in that it makes kids feel smart when they can say they figured it out before they were told, but that just demonstrates how adults are ignored in this movie.)
Overall though, the movie has enough humor and just plain fun to make it enjoyable. I just hope that this does not mark the end of Nick Park's "adult-friendly" fare. He has too much satirical humor inside him to limit himself to the 12 and under crowd.