Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Nick Park

Writers:

Nick Park (written by) &
Bob Baker (written by)

Release Date:

22 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Family

Plot:

Wallace and his dog, Gromit, open a bakery and get tied up with a murder mystery. But, when Wallace falls in love Gromit is left to solve the case.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Baker | Dog | Wallace And Gromit | Bakery

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Cast

Peter Sallis	...	Wallace (voice)
Sally Lindsay	...	Piella (voice)
Melissa Collier	...	Fluffles (voice)
Sarah Laborde	...	Bake O Lite Singer (voice)

Also Known As:

Wallace and Gromit in Trouble At' Mill (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Bristol, England, UK

Company:

Aardman Animations

Trivia:

The cardboard box that Fluffles sleeps in has "Meatabix" written on it. This is the same as the name written on the box that Gromit is watching Feathers McGraw from in Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bake O Lite Singer leaves Wallace & Gromits Home, and cycles away. The scene pans to the hallway of their house and Bake O Lite Singer's hat and coat are hanging up, yet she has just left.

Quotes:

[Wallace and Gromit are in the baker's van]
Wallace: How's that breakfast coming on?
[Gromit presses a button on the car radio and a slice of cremated toast pops out from the cassette slot]
Wallace: Well done, lad.
[looks at the burnt toast]
Wallace: *Very* well done.

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

This was enjoyable, but compared to classic Wallace and Gromit, it's a huge disappointment.

I could go on and on why the Wallace and Gromit shorts are some of the best short films ever made. "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Close Shave" are especially excellent, and are just amazingly made. They use the right amount of suspense, with music perfectly placed throughout, and they both have hilarious and original climaxes. This short...eh! It's funny throughout, and has some elements of those other two shorts, but there's very little suspense, mainly because we know very quickly who the antagonist is, what their plan is, and then just a lot of talking. It's good, but not nearly as perfect as the other ones.

Wallace and Gromit are apparently now bakers, and at the worst time too as there is an unknown baker killer on the loose. Anyways, while delivering some bread, Wallace happens to save the life of a bread company model, Piella, and they fall in love. She even has a French poodle named Fluffles that Gromit finds attractive. But, Piella is hiding a secret, and Gromit will find out what.

This is a very funny short. It has some good jokes and an amusing plot. It's just with the knowledge of the other films (especially the two mentioned earlier), this one is not nearly as good. The other films had emotion, with the scenes where Gromit leaves after being unwanted, and the scene where Gromit goes to prison, but here, there is very little emotion. It's almost like this was a pilot for a Wallace and Gromit TV show. It would be a good pilot for a show, but it's not cinematic so much. It's like a gag filled kiddie show.

This sounds pretty negative, but actually this is a very good short. It has a lot of funny gags, an interesting plot, and features an action packed ending, in true with the other films. Kids will love it, adults might be mixed, but no matter, it's meant for the younger group, and will entertain.

Nick Park has made another entertaining Wallace and Gromit film, though perhaps he should review the formula, because if he wants to do another one, maybe he can shoot for excellent instead of just good.

My rating: *** out of ****. 30 mins. Not rated.