Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Summary

Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Foul"

Release Date: January 8, 2025
Hosted by NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour Team: Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris
Guests: Regina Barber (NPR Science Podcast Short Wave) and Christina Escobar (Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Latina Media Punto Company)

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Introduction

In this episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, the team dives into the latest installment of the beloved stop-motion animation series: "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Foul." Joining host Glenn Weldon are special guests Regina Barber and Christina Escobar, who share their insights and critiques of the film.

Overview of "Vengeance Most Foul"

Glenn Weldon opens the discussion by setting the stage for the new film. He describes the plot, highlighting Wallace's latest invention—a robotic garden gnome named Norbit—and the return of the sinister penguin villain, Feathers McGraw, portrayed once again with his characteristic malevolence (03:42).

Glenn Weldon [03:42]: "Wallace is a kindly but dim inventor, and Gromit is his silent but soulful and extremely resourceful beagle."

The episode emphasizes the film's continuity with previous installments and its availability on Netflix.

Stephen Thompson’s Perspective

Stephen Thompson offers a positive take on the film, appreciating its lightheartedness compared to darker animated movies like the Paddington series.

Stephen Thompson [04:01]: "This is an utterly frictionless, kind, funny, joyful, silly moviegoing experience."

He applauds the movie's accessibility, noting that it doesn't require prior knowledge of the series to enjoy.

Stephen Thompson [04:26]: "You don't have to know any other films in the series. You don't have to really know Feathers McGraw's backstory."

Christina Escobar’s Critique

Christina Escobar shares a more critical viewpoint, praising the film's entertainment value but expressing disappointment in its lack of depth and meaningful commentary.

Christina Escobar [05:46]: "I thought the movie was fun. Super fun to watch."

However, she criticizes the absence of substantial lessons or commentary, contrasting it with the emotional depth found in previous films.

Christina Escobar [06:37]: "I felt like this movie had no lesson, no commentary. Like, there was stuff about AI but, like, what did they have to say?"

Regina Barber’s Reflections

Regina Barber reflects nostalgically on her childhood love for the series, particularly "The Wrong Trousers." She echoes Christina's sentiments about the film's superficial take on themes.

Regina Barber [06:45]: "Wallace and Gromit was very formative in my childhood. Really, really loved it."

She questions the film's narrative choices, such as Wallace's persistent financial struggles despite his inventions' failures.

Regina Barber [07:54]: "I did not like the anti-robot propaganda that they put out there. I am pro robot and didn't like that message."

Technical Marvels and Humor

Glenn Weldon shifts the conversation to the technical prowess of Aardman Animations, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit. He marvels at the stop-motion craftsmanship and the expressive characterization achieved with minimal movement, particularly praising Gromit and Feathers McGraw.

Glenn Weldon [09:01]: "How are they conveying so much with so little movement?"

The hosts discuss specific humorous moments and set pieces that contribute to the film's charm, such as the "rebooting of the robots by throwing boots at their back" (10:34).

Themes and Messaging

The discussion delves into the film's underlying themes, or lack thereof. While Stephen Thompson argues that the movie subtly comments on artificial intelligence and modern life's reliance on technology, both Christina Escobar and Regina Barber feel these themes are underdeveloped.

Stephen Thompson [16:00]: "This movie has more to say about technology and AI than you're giving it credit for."

Contrastingly, Christina Escobar believes the film fails to engage viewers on a deeper level, leaving her with little to ponder post-viewing.

Christina Escobar [15:34]: "The best movies ask questions. Even the best kids movies don't necessarily impart a lesson, but have you walking away thinking about something. And I did not walk away thinking about anything other than this is stop motion animation."

Comparisons to Other Animated Films

Guests draw comparisons between "Vengeance Most Foul" and other animated features like Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda, highlighting the former's lighter touch and lack of a strong moral lesson.

Christina Escobar [12:31]: "I felt like I would say something similar about this movie because unlike in other Wallace and Gromit's where the central thing is their relationship, right? Friendship, what it means, what it doesn't mean, what is forgiveness?"

Concluding Thoughts

As the conversation wraps up, Glenn Weldon summarizes his enjoyment of the film's humor and technical execution, despite recognizing the divergent opinions among the guests.

Glenn Weldon [14:43]: "It just sets to work being funny. Not kid Funny, not kid funny with some spicy things for the adults. Just funny to everyone."

Christina Escobar and Regina Barber express their mixed feelings, appreciating the animation's beauty but yearning for more substantial storytelling and emotional development.

Christina Escobar [16:02]: "I think this still works on a kid level... making fun of the adult world."

The episode concludes with Glenn Weldon encouraging listeners to share their own thoughts on the film via social media, ensuring a comprehensive wrap-up to the discussion.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Glenn Weldon [03:42]: "Wallace is a kindly but dim inventor, and Gromit is his silent but soulful and extremely resourceful beagle."

• Stephen Thompson [04:01]: "This is an utterly frictionless, kind, funny, joyful, silly moviegoing experience."

• Christina Escobar [05:46]: "I thought the movie was fun. Super fun to watch."

• Regina Barber [06:45]: "Wallace and Gromit was very formative in my childhood. Really, really loved it."

• Stephen Thompson [16:00]: "This movie has more to say about technology and AI than you're giving it credit for."

• Christina Escobar [15:34]: "I did not walk away thinking about anything other than this is stop motion animation."

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Final Thoughts

"Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Foul" emerges as a visually stunning and humor-rich addition to the series, balancing nostalgia with contemporary themes. While it delights in its technical finesse and comedic moments, it receives mixed reviews regarding its depth and thematic execution. Pop Culture Happy Hour provides a well-rounded discussion, offering listeners diverse perspectives to consider before streaming the latest adventure of Wallace and Gromit.

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For more insights and discussions, tune in to the next episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, available on all major podcast platforms.

Transcript

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[Glenn Weldon]

Wallace and Vengeance most Foul is the latest film in the beloved stop motion animation series. It sees clueless inventor Wallace and his long suffering pooch Gromit dealing with Wallace's latest invention, a robotic garden gnome designed to make everyone's lives easier.

[Stephen Thompson]

But when an old enemy gets involved, Wallace and Gromit must face down an army of evil robots and expose the criminal mastermind behind it all. I'm Stephen Thompson.

[Glenn Weldon]

And I'm Glenn Weldon. And today we're talking about the Netflix movie Wallace and Vengeance Most Foul on pop culture Happy Hour from.

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[Glenn Weldon]

Us today is Regina Barber. She's a host and reporter for NPR science podcast Short Wave. Hey Regina.

[Regina Barber]

Hey, how's it going?

[Glenn Weldon]

It's going great. Also with us is entertainment journalist Christina Escobar. She's the co founder and editor in chief of Latina Media Punto company. Hey Christina, welcome back.

[Christina Escobar]

Thanks for having me of course.

[Glenn Weldon]

Let's get to it. Vengeance Most Foul is the second feature length Wallace and Gromit film in the long running series. There have also been four short films and several spinoffs, so you may know the setup already. Wallace is a kindly but dim inventor, and Gromit is his silent but soulful and extremely resourceful beagle. Wallace is voiced by Ben Whitehead. Gromit is by nobody. You might recall that in the 1993 Wallace and Gromit short the Wrong Trousers, we met Feathers McGraw, the sinister penguin who posed as a chicken. Long story, nevermind. And whose plans to steal the precious blue diamond were foiled by Wallace and Gromit. But let's be honest, mostly by Gromit. In Vengeance Most Foul, Feathers is back and plotting his revenge, which he hopes to achieve by exploiting Wallace's latest invention, a robotic garden gnome named Norbit, who is voiced by Reese Shearsmith.

[Nick Park]

This is my latest invention, a sm.

[Regina Barber]

Hi, I'm your nifty odd jobbing robot.

[Glenn Weldon]

Call me Gnawbot. Wallace and Gromit Vengeance Most Foul was directed by series creator Nick park and Merlin Crossingham. It is streaming on Netflix now. Stephen, kick us off. What'd you think?

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, for those who find the Paddington movies a little too edgy, a little too dark. If you watched Paddington and had nightmares, might I suggest dipping into a film that I found completely and utterly delightful? My relationship with the Aardman animation oeuvre, your Chickens Run, your Wallaces and Gromit. I've been pretty casual.

[Regina Barber]

I love Chicken Run.

[Christina Escobar]

It's a good one.

[Stephen Thompson]

I've checked in here and there. I've seen at least one Chicken Run movie. I've certainly seen some Wallace and Gromit here and there. I have not been deeply invested in this series. So for me, I was really kind of coming in as a tourist. And I have to say it requires no advance novel. You don't have to know any other films in the series. You don't have to really know Feathers McGraw's backstory. It's kind of implied he's evil. This is an utterly frictionless, kind, funny, joyful, silly moviegoing experience. I love the fact that this is the second feature length Wallace and Gromit film. This movie without credits is like 75 minutes long.

[Glenn Weldon]

Sure.

[Regina Barber]

It still felt so long.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, Regina, we'll get to I had a blast with this movie and I think you can. You know, as frictionless and as joyful and as silly and sweet as this movie is, you can also read into it a little bit more Commentary about artificial intelligence, for example. So what I'm saying is, Wallace and vengeance most foul ripped from the headlines. Searing commentary on modern life. I loved it.

[Glenn Weldon]

Okay, I think we're gleaning from context clues what Regina thinks, but let's go to Christina first. What'd you think of it?

[Christina Escobar]

So I thought the movie was fun. Super fun to watch, I thought. Actually, I disagree, Regina. I thought the plot clipped along nicely, that there were fun set pieces. I have been saying cheese, grommet cheese to my children since they were born. They've had no idea what I've been talking about. And it was delightful to go back to West Wallaby Street. But I felt like this movie had no lesson, no commentary. Like, there was stuff about AI but, like, what did they have to say? I don't know. Pick a better password. Was, like, that the takeaway from the whole film. Like, I just. It was lovely. I guess I just expected a little bit more from a Wallace and Gromit joint than, like, Despicable Me 4. To me, they had the same level of things to say, which is low.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, Christina Escobar.

[Glenn Weldon]

Shots fire.

[Christina Escobar]

But it was nice.

[Stephen Thompson]

Wow.

[Regina Barber]

Chris.

[Stephen Thompson]

Regina.

[Regina Barber]

I love it.

[Glenn Weldon]

Okay, Regina, hit us.

[Regina Barber]

So Wallace and Gromit was very formative in my childhood. Really, really loved it. Really loved the Wrong Trousers. Probably one of my favorite movies for, like, the longest time. It was 30 something minutes, right? And so. And I remember watching clips of it before watching this, and I kind of agree with Christina. Like, it didn't have, like, a lot to say, but it felt like a little bit more. If this cartoon can be deeper. And, like, why is Wallace still having money problems? And, like, like, that was, like, my first question.

[Glenn Weldon]

Because his inventions aren't very good, Regina. They're not very good.

[Stephen Thompson]

He spends all his money on these, like, steampunk Rube Goldberg creations that, like, butter his toast.

[Regina Barber]

He can't even make tea anymore.

[Nick Park]

Oh, dear. More bills. Inventing doesn't come cheap, does it? Maybe I'm just making too many gadgets.

[Regina Barber]

I did think it was slow. I was like, when are we gonna get to what's actually gonna happen? Because I was used to the shorter films. Like, minute 47 is when I was into it. Then I started to enjoy it.

[Stephen Thompson]

I just love that for Regina, this movie being 75 minutes long is like, ugh. It's like the brutalist. It's the brutalist of stop motion animation.

[Regina Barber]

It's the longest thing ever. And I will say, I know how long this takes. You shouldn't have spen Tighten it up, tighten it up. Get an editor. But I will say I did not like the anti robot propaganda that they put out there. I am pro robot and didn't like that message.

[Glenn Weldon]

Okay. All right, mark your calendars, folks, because this happens very rarely. I am totally Team Stephen. What a delight, this movie from start to finish. Regina, with a big, groovy grin in my face, with a peach of a marvel of a movie. So many jokes, so many gags, and not one of those jokes is spinning off in its own direction. Just a joke for joke's sake. Each joke we get is building out character, doing character work, building what we know, filling it out, surprising us. And, you know, I spend the first few minutes of any Aardman animation film, which is the studio that creator Nick park works out of, just marveling at the technical accomplishment. I don't know if y'all spend any time as kids with a camcorder and some play doh. Trying to make stop motion yourself.

[Regina Barber]

Yes.

[Glenn Weldon]

But if you did, yeah, you're just. I'm marveling at the craft of it, but then the execution, because the characterization of, say, Gromit, how are they conveying so much with so little movement? And then a few minutes in, I just get sucked in because they're very good at what they do. And then it becomes almost invisible. You stop thinking about the fact that it's stop animation. But the reason I stopped thinking about it is because I think I've cracked it. I'm that smug. I think, oh, I now know what they're doing with Gromit. It's on the eyebrows. That's the secret. That's the code. Gromit feels like a real person because they know how to manipulate his eyebrows. And then I think I know as much about stop motion animation as Nick Parker. And then feathers McGraw and feathers. Feathers McGraw, people is a bowling pin. He is a beak. And two completely expressionless, two coal black.

[Stephen Thompson]

Tiny shark eye buttons.

[Regina Barber]

I love him.

[Christina Escobar]

He's so good.

[Regina Barber]

I love him.

[Glenn Weldon]

And he doesn't move, but he's the funniest, most expressive thing in the movie. How is that possible? It's like it's a combination of mime and puppetry, and he's such a clearly defined character.

[Regina Barber]

You feel so bad for him, actually, at times, you know?

[Glenn Weldon]

Well, yeah, I think you're supposed to get some emotion out of him. But Regina, I know the moment you're talking about, which is Gromit looking at the back of a swivel chair, and my husband will attest to this. Fact, I went like this. I made a little clappy. I made little clappy hands because I knew what was coming.

[Christina Escobar]

Yes.

[Glenn Weldon]

And when it happens, it paid off in such a big way.

[Regina Barber]

When feathers McGraw, even in the original movie, in the wrong trousers, when he would turn around and see you, right, you'd be caught giggling. That's the best part. And I will say that one of the jokes that made me. Just two of the jokes that made me laugh was Anya Doorstep, the name of the reporter. And then the rebooting of the robots by throwing boots at their back. I thought. I actually very much enjoyed that. Again, second half of the movie, Regina.

[Nick Park]

Okay.

[Glenn Weldon]

But in as much as this film can be about anything, and I personally like the fact that it really wasn't about anything, I think that's a relief. There is a vaguely Luddite point to your point, Regina. I mean, not that technology itself is evil, but that it can be easily exploited, used for evil.

[Regina Barber]

You can just hack into them.

[Glenn Weldon]

But even that was handled with such a light touch. Yeah, it was such. I was totally down with it.

[Stephen Thompson]

I mean, think about the restraint necessary, the very British restraint necessary. Like, imagine you are Nick park and this is your life's work, making stop motion animation, making these films at an extremely slow and deliberate, painstaking pace for years and years and years. What somebody like that must think of. AI.

[Regina Barber]

Oh, that's a good point.

[Stephen Thompson]

And to have that mindset be deployed in such a gentle way requires so much more restraint than I possess. And I don't know, like, many of these jokes are very broad, right? Like you referred to the reboot. Like, that is just a very silly pun deployed in this kind of Rube Goldberg, Pee Wee Herman steampunk invention concocted in the moment. It's so silly, but there's still such a light touch to it. And it would be so easy in lesser hands for this to be clunky and full of, I mean, somebody. Or was it Christina? Christina was the one who compared this to Despicable Me 4. The level of deftness here compared to the so much broader kids entertainment.

[Christina Escobar]

Yeah. So what I wanna say about that is, like, the animation here was beautiful and I love it. And I loved watching it and I loved watching with my kids and talking about, like, how they did it and the difference between this and, say, a Despicable Me 4. But I will say, over the holidays, my kids watched Despicable Me 4 by themselves and came back up and were trying to explain what it was about to our relatives. And it was like it's not about anything. You don't, don't worry about. And I felt like I would say something similar about this movie because unlike in other Wallace and Gromit's where the central thing is their relationship, right? Friendship, what it means, what it doesn't mean, what is forgiveness? Like all of those things, Those themes were so, so light in this one. There's the padding machine that he invents. That's obviously right. Like too far.

[Nick Park]

That's it, lad. My new Pat O Matic will oblige. And if you think that's progress, wait till you see the next thing I'm working on.

[Regina Barber]

I was like, he's so neglected. That's the note I wrote. Gromit is so neglected.

[Stephen Thompson]

Wallace has outsourced petting his dog to.

[Christina Escobar]

Technology, which is bad. That's okay, right? But then, oh, spoiler. By the end, he's learned that he should pet his own dog, right? He gets rid of that machine.

[Stephen Thompson]

You never expect that. I'm so sorry about the spoiler, everybody. You never expect that he's gonna learn a valuable lesson about petting his own dog.

[Regina Barber]

Agreed.

[Christina Escobar]

Why we never see him reacting to the gnomes like, oh, maybe they're bad, maybe they're good. It's just like he did it at the beginning and then he doesn't do it at the end. And I felt like there was a lot of adventure. There was like beautiful scenes on boats and super fun throwing of things and racing and running and amazing stuff that happened. But why did he change? I really couldn't tell you. I saw no light bulb go off. No, no, nothing.

[Regina Barber]

There was a light bulb that went off.

[Christina Escobar]

Yeah, but not about that. Not about that. About a plot point. And so that like lack of emotional learning made the movie to me. After I walked away, I was like, that was nice. I just don't think I'm gonna watch it over and over again. Like I have the shorts and some of the other films.

[Glenn Weldon]

I think you're speaking to something that it occurred to me while I was watching this, I was watching this thinking, this is a kids movie or maybe I should say it's an all ages movie. And yet it's great, it's funny, it's exciting. I think it doesn't feel the need to impart very heavy life lessons or heavy handed because, you know, padding life lessons, and that's what I enjoyed about it, isn't concerned with telling kids that they're special and wondrous creatures. It just sets to work being funny. Not kid Funny, not kid funny with some spicy things for the adults. Just funny to everyone.

[Christina Escobar]

Yeah.

[Regina Barber]

I will say even Kung Fu Panda does a really good job of imparting a message and I think you're right. Not everything has to have a message. But when you do have impressionable kids, sometimes it's nice and sometimes it's nice to feel like you're being talked to and being included. And I like Kung Fu Panda.

[Christina Escobar]

I don't think movies have to have a message, but I do think they have to be about something. And I would be hard pressed to tell you. Like, I think the best movies ask questions. Even the best kids movies don't necessarily impart a lesson, but have you walking away thinking about something. And I did not walk away thinking about anything other than this is stop motion animation.

[Stephen Thompson]

I think this movie has more to say about technology and AI than you're giving it credit for.

[Christina Escobar]

Maybe.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah.

[Glenn Weldon]

And as a non parent, I'll say this is. But I think this still works on a kid level. Even though kids need to see themselves all the time. Because I think I would imagine. You tell me if I'm wrong. I would imagine that a kid sees themselves identifying with Gromit. He's ignored, he's taken for granted, but he's the only one with a real sense of what's going on while all the adults like Wallace are just wrapped up in themselves. So this is making fun of the adult world. And this is what I think this is a good way to make an all ages movie that doesn't feature some precocious snot of a little kid who gets told life lessons. So this is a very rich text. Is there anything we haven't touched on yet?

[Stephen Thompson]

We've barely scratched the surface.

[Christina Escobar]

The other thing I want to say is that they didn't eat cheese. There was one cheese mentioned.

[Glenn Weldon]

They mentioned cheese.

[Advertiser]

Right.

[Stephen Thompson]

They mentioned cheese. But they got to leave you wanting something for the sequel.

[Christina Escobar]

Where was the cheese?

[Regina Barber]

Yeah, I agree.

[Christina Escobar]

I'm usually not saying you have to do fan service, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of cheese.

[Glenn Weldon]

All right, well, as you say, all movies ask questions. Christina, this one is where was the cheese?

[Christina Escobar]

Where was the cheese?

[Glenn Weldon]

Well, I think we've arranged ourselves along a spectrum. I think it's safe to say so, yes, fill in the gap. Where do you fit on this spectrum? We want to know what you think about Wallace and Gromit. Vengeance most foul. Find [e-mail] PCHH that brings us to the end of our show. Christina Escobar, Regina Barber. Steven Thompson, thank you so much for being here.

[Christina Escobar]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Regina Barber]

Thank you so much.

[Glenn Weldon]

And just a reminder that signing up for Pop Culture Happy Hour plus is a great way to support our show on public radio. And you get to listen to all of our episodes sponsor free. No more clicking ahead three minutes. Just listen to the whole thing. So please go find out more at plus.npr.org happyhour or visit the link in our show notes. This episode was produced by Liz Metzger and Hafsa Fatima and edited by Mike Katsuff. Our supervising producer is Jessica Reedy. And hello, Come in provides our theme music. Thank you for listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour from npr. I'm Glenn Weldon and we'll see you all tomorrow.

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