“Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” still entertains

Will Vinton’s clay animation wowed audiences in 1975 with his Oscar-winning short “Closed Mondays” and the wondrous dancing raisins in a tv ad. Continuing exceptional claymation, Nick Park won Academy Awards in 1989 with “Creature Comforts” and two Wallace and Gromit shorts, “The Wrong Trousers,” 1993, and “A Close Shave,” 1995.

Then, in 2005 Park’s Bristol, England, Aardman Animations company released the first Wallace and Gromit feature film, “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” and won for it. Wallace is still the clueless though clever inventor who goes crazy for his cheese. Gromit is his silent but exceedingly expressive, faithful companion who says more with his active forehead than the more loquacious characters. They include the hilarious, upper-crust Lady Tottington, with Helena Bonham-Carter providing the voice.

The plot involves the lead-up to the Giant Vegetable Competition and the protection and pest removal Wallace and Gromit provide through their company, Anti-Pesto. The proliferation of rabbits appears the most evident threat to the well-being of the luscious and lovely giant veggies. But soon another giant stalks the neighborhood, a terrifying beast that Wallace and Gromit must battle. Conflict also occurs because of Lady Tottington’s suitor, Victor Quartermaine, voice delivered by Ralph Fiennes. As a foil to Wallace, Victor will stoop to inhumane measures to eliminate the bunnies instead of the humane devices Wallace employs.

The story moves quickly, as animated films must, entertaining adults as well as children with its layers of meaning and mischief. Peter Sallis, who voices Wallace, has an inimitable, humorous delivery whatever the subject. Sadly, while this film premiered, a fire at the Aardman Animations warehouse destroyed the claymation props and many miscellaneous items for previous Wallace and Gromit films. Those for this one had not been stored yet and were spared. On our screens, a little sci-fi, a little action adventure, a little romance, and Wallace and Gromit provide a quick hour and a half of escapist fun. “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” screens Saturday, October 19, at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Webster University’s Winifred Moore auditorium. For more information, you may visit the film series website.