Review Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

[Carol]

As all-time favourite films go, this would be one! But where to put it: animation, horror or vegetarianism?
Gromit was runner-up in my quest for an avatar (it's just that Paddington and I have been together since I was six so he pulled rank).
Anyone else have a favourite gag? I knew I was helpless from the opening credits, when we saw Gromit's diploma from Dogwarts on the wall.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

I don't know if I have a favorite gag, but the movie is so great. More American comedy writers could learn some lessons from these folks.

 

[Carol]

@chainsaw_metal1
Me again - well, we gave you Wallace and Gromit, you gave us Shrek and Toy Story... honours about even? What do you think of Chicken Run?

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

Alas, I have never watched Chicken Run all the way through. What I have seen was great. When my kids were still young, I put it on one night to see if it would capture their attention. Unfortunately, it didn't. I'm so glad their tastes have improved as they've gotten older. Do you know what it's like watching the same Barney and Wiggles videos over and over again? Sanity slips, brain matter jellies, and drunken stupors become the norm.

As far as comedy, British humor is so much different. Jokes can be over the top, but they don't need to be explained. Here, writers feel the need to have a joke that's quite obvious, and then sit there and essentially tell you why it's funny. That's why when we attempt to remake things over here - I'm thinking particularly of the failed attempts at Red Dwarf and The IT Crowd - they don't translate. Leave it alone if it was perfect to begin with.

 

[Carol]

Leave it alone if it was perfect to begin with.

I think that commissioning editors in the US must aim for the lowest common comedy denominator to try to sell shows a widely as possible - there's so much more of you lot than us. And BBC and Channel 4 aren't altogether trapped into making profits like full-on commercial TV, so really can take risks on new ideas and new writers.

As to young children's telly - I've heard the same from friends with little'uns and sat through a fair amount of Angelina Ballerina and Barbie Mariposa - but Barney and Wiggles sound horrendous on general principles. Last time of visiting the friend with the Barbie-fixated one I packed Princess Bride to be on the safe side and it worked a treat!

With Easter holidays round the corner Britons will be expecting our routine TV offering of The Great Escape. When yours have sat through the latter with interest, then try them on Chicken Run again - YOU deserve it.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

I think that commissioning editors in the US must aim for the lowest common comedy denominator to try to sell shows a widely as possible

Not just TV. It happens with movies as well. There's this idea that all movie and television viewers are idiots, and we need everything spoonfed to us. There are more intelligent shows and movies that come out, but the majority isn't worth watching. This isn't to say that everything that comes out of England is gold. I've read a lot of posts from people who love the series Some Mothers 'Ave Them, and I don't think we watched the same show. I saw two episodes and didn't get it.

And yes, advertising has a big hand in what gets made over here. I was just saying in another thread here about how too many movies here, as far as niche films, are written with toy sales in mind rather than actual story. It's frustrating, but it's part of the "industry".

 

[Carol]

are written with toy sales in mind rather than actual story

Do we still get to blame George Lucas for the merchandising thing?

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

We do indeed. While there were toy tie-ins before Star Wars, he certainly set the modern standard.

 

[Carol]

We do indeed. While there were toy tie-ins before Star Wars, he certainly set the modern standard.

Way back in the day I loved Andy Pandy on "Watch With Mother" (today's tiny wees what do they know? The BBC has a whole channel just for the pre-schoolers). My mum sent away to a magazine for a pattern for a cutout stitch and stuff Andy Pandy, which I loved, but turned out a bit wonky in the leg department. There was a run on blue candy stripes in the haberdasheries of England that year I think. (I already had a Teddy in his own right, but it turned out he could multi-task as a sidekick too.)