Pure "poultry in motion."

Rating: 9/10 (27 June 2000)

How appropriate that the distribution company is Pathe -- a company that pretty much does not exist in the United States anymore -- whose logo is a rooster.
One of the first clues that there are going to be a lot in-jokes and humour that not everyone will quite 'get' is right at the beginning: it is a shot of a rather miserable hut with the number `17' painted on the front; a quiet reference to the film `Stalag 17.'
Quite a bit of the film is very British-oriented and American audiences may not understand the humour. As an example: `chocks' or `chockies' is British slang for chocolates. When Fowler yells to `Remove the chocks.' it is the well-recognized triangular box of Toblerone chocolates that the hens remove that are used to block the wheels.
Sight and word puns and gags abound -- far too many to remember let alone enumerate.
One of the nicest surprises is Jane Horrocks, who essentially reprises her role as Bubble' from `Absolutely Fabulous' -- only as a scatter-brained chicken with a knitting addiction instead of a scatter-brained secretary.
Julia Sawalha, also from `Absolutely Fabulous' fame, does a wonderful job voicing Ginger' the motivating force and heroine -- or is that `henoine' -- of the film?
This `Poultry in Paradise' film has something for everyone. the soundtrack is good, though not outstanding; but the animation is flawless.
It is one of the few films I have been to where the (small matinee) audience cheered when the villains got what they deserved and most of the audience stayed through the end of the credits.
It is a must see movie that is touching, funny and magnificently executed.