Film Review: WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT

This Academy Award winner (Best Animated Feature Film - 2006) stars the immensely popular British animated characters, Wallace and Gromit - Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis), a typical Brit villager with an unusually strong penchant for cheese, and his more-than-devoted dog Gromit. Here, the dynamic duo own and operate "Anti-Pesto" - a humane pest control service that rids the local villagers of rabbit infestations that threaten their belovd vegetable gardens.

Never more so are their services needed, as the biggest event of the season - the annual giant vegetable growing competition - is coming up fast, and the last thing the village resdients need are their gardens destroyed! Further, the services of Anti-Pesto guarantee the no harm comes to the animals; indeed, the basement of Wallace & Gromit's flat rather resembles a rabbit sanctuary. Wallace even finds time for a little romantic ambition on the side, as he and Gromit help the beautiful Lady Tottington (a delicate Helena Bonham Carter) rid her rather large estate's grounds of a major herd of rabbits - much to the chagrin of the money-hungry Victor Quartermaine (voiced with just enough brilliance by Ralph Fiennes), who himself hopes to marry both Lady Tottington and her money.

But Victor is the last of Wallace & Gromit's worries when a giant, crazed, vegetable-devouring beast - a giant rabbit - suddenly appears on the scene, and not only threatens the giant vegetable competition ... but also Wallace's romance. Because Lady Tottington has commissioned Wallace & Gromit to rid the village of the beast - even as Victor Quartermaine grabs up his rifle to do the very same, in a bid to win back Lady Tottington's heart (and money).

I truly loved this movie. It's been years since I've seen Wallace & Gromit in anything, and catching this film was a weclomed return to their world. I only WISH I had a dog as devoted as Gromit, for sure - so will you, after seeing what that poor animal goes through to protect Wallace and the village (but mostly Wallace). This film truly deserved its Oscar - it's funny, engaging, well-written and beautifully-voice, with a good storyline that will appeal to both adults and kids alike. The ending is a wild rollercoaster of action that ties up everything well. Brilliant film.