March 4, 2010: Wallace and Gromit in “A Matter of Loaf and Death”
This 30-minute UK short film, the latest in the ongoing saga of the claymation duo Wallace and Gromit which includes a feature film and several short films dating back over 20 years, seemed to be presented as the centrepiece of the package of Oscar-nominated animated short films I viewed in the theatre during the week before this year’s Oscar show. And for good reason. Three of the previous short films have won Oscars, as well as the feature from 2005. People love Wallace and Gromit, and Nick Park’s unique artistry is the reason.
Every time we encounter these two characters, an odd British fellow and his dog, we get additional insight into the daily life of these two, who are both technological wizards and gadget-freaks. The implication is that the dog (Gromit) is the brains behind the operation, although Wallace certainly has a hand in coming up with some of their grand ideas. This intimate portrait of family life, upon which is usually suspended the most ridiculous possible plotline of criminal intrigue, is why the characters have remained so popular for so long. Character development seems minimal but at the same time we somehow get to know them in a different way each time.
In this case, Wallace and Gromit now operate a bakery, assisted by some complicated automated systems in their home-based operation. It just so happens that someone seems to be murdering local bakers, and Gromit gets panicky and tries to figure out who it could be. Throw in a comical romance between Wallace and a fellow baked-goods celebrity who also has a pet dog with whom Gromit must wrangle, and we’ve got the material for 30 minutes of goofiness.
I won’t spoil much more of the plot since there is actually a decent chance that a typical movie fan might come across this film. The usual expressive clay faces abound, and of course Gromit saves the day. This is absolutely as much of a must-see as any of their previous outings, so I leave it to the reader to track down a copy and view it. It didn’t win the Oscar this time, though that’s a story for another day.
Wallace and Gromit impress yet again.
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