Run to see this movie!

Rating: 7/10 (19 June 2000)

Chicken Run: The poultry population of Tweedy's farm has grown tired of being slaves to production and is determined to escape. Unfortunately every attempt has either failed or been foiled. They're given renewed hope with the arrival of Rocky, a swaggering American rooster who agrees to teach them how to fly in exchange for shelter.
In a climate where computer animation has become the standard, it is refreshing to see what can be done with simple clay figures. Produced by the team that created the Oscar winning "Wallace and Gromit" series, Chicken Run uses stop motion photography, a craft generally relegated to realm of animation festivals. This is the first time this technique has been used in a full feature big budget movie and I was amazed at the versatility of the medium: the range of expressions and actions is amazing. I can only imagine how much effort it took to create this picture but I'm glad they did.
It is very difficult to try to categorize this movie as it s so different from the standard Hollywood fare. For example, the marketing campaign has been brilliant - rather than simply showing trailers with snippets of the movie, they have crafted hilarious parodies of both MI:2 (people were screaming in delight when this trailer was shown before MI:2) and Gladiator. And unlike so many instances where the trailers are better than the movie, Chicken Run delivers.
The story, which pays homage to such classic films as "The Great Escape", "Stalag 17" and "Star Trek", is well written, engaging and has elements that will appeal to both young and old alike. The characters have more depth than many I've seen in live action films: whether you're drawn to Rocky, the cocky upstart with a secret, Ginger, the driven saviour of the group who yearns for freedom, or the crotchety old Colonel, you will find someone you can relate to. The humor runs the gamut from subtle, to the absurd and it comes fast and furious - the audience rarely stopped laughing. Finally, the pacing is excellent - there are few lulls in the action and they don't rely on unnecessary filler to bridge the scenes.
I don't know that this movie will be a blockbuster (read $200 million) but it is already on my top ten list for this year, and I think it will prove to be the "Iron Giant" for 2000. If you're looking for a well-rounded family movie, look no further.