Chicken Run

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2005)

This is a very good first feature length film from the makers of the Oscar winning Creature Comforts and Wallace and Gromit, Aardman Animations. Nick Park and Peter Lord have created a great story similar to The Great Escape, but with chickens. Ginger (Absolutely Fabulous's Julia Sawalha) has been trying for ages to get herself and all other chickens out of Tweedy's Farm. One day after discussing ideas of escape, a loud bang sounds and then comes Rocky Roads (Mel Gibson) from America. He came in appearing to fly, and Ginger is determined that he could teach them how to fly to escape. Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson) meanwhile are planning to start a chicken pie business with her thick husband (Tony Haygarth). Also starring Little Voice's Jane Horrocks as Babs, Shakespeare in Love's Imelda Staunton as Bunty, EastEnders' and Blur's "Parklife" voice Phil Daniels as Fetcher the mouse, Timothy Spall as Nick the mouse, Lynn Ferguson as Mac and Benjamin Whitrow as Fowler. A hilarious film with outstanding Plastercine animation. It was number 93 on The Ultimate Film, it was number 59 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons, and it was number 56 on The 100 Greatest Family Films. Very good!