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2025 kicks off on a high note with the latest Wallace & Gromit adventure, “Vengeance Most Fowl”—the first feature-length outing since 2005’s beloved “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit”. Officially released in the UK on Christmas 2024, it wasn’t until January 1st that I finally sat down to enjoy the antics of my favorite plasticine duo. And let me tell you, I was in for a treat!
Wallace invents a robotic garden gnome, Norbot, to launch a gardening business, but his dog Gromit feels sidelined and uneasy about Wallace’s growing dependence on technology. After an annoyed Gromit connects Norbot to Wallace’s computer to charge, the villainous penguin Feathers McGraw, now imprisoned in a zoo, hacks into the system and reprograms Norbot to steal for him and build an army of robotic gnomes. As thefts around the city mount, Chief Inspector Mackintosh mistakenly blames Wallace, confiscating his inventions, while the real culprits remain hidden.
Every frame of “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” is a visual delight. The miniature work crafted for this film is nothing short of spectacular. Set primarily in a picturesque town filled with charming brick houses and vibrant gardens, the meticulous attention to detail in every shot is utterly mesmerizing—and knowing it’s all tangible makes it even more enchanting. Even the thrilling finale, which unfolds along a quaint canal and atop a speeding train, manages to retain the cozy, handcrafted charm despite its larger-than-life scale.
The story of “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” isn’t particularly complex or deeply layered, but it serves its purpose perfectly as a foundation for the humor and charm that fans have come to love. The straightforward plot keeps things light and accessible, allowing the movie to focus on delivering an abundance of clever jokes, slapstick comedy, and delightful sight gags. It’s the kind of narrative that doesn’t need to overreach—it’s simply there to provide a fun, whimsical framework for Wallace and Gromit’s antics to shine.
This movie marks the triumphant return of Feathers McGraw, who might just be one of the greatest villains ever created. With his sleek, minimalist design and those two unblinking, beady eyes, Feathers manages to exude menace without saying a single word. His ability to communicate so much—sometimes by simply standing still—is nothing short of brilliant. It’s a testament to the power of subtlety and reminded me of iconic silent slashers like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, who could send shivers down your spine with just a tilt of the head. Feathers McGraw never resorts to violence, yet his presence is chillingly effective, making him the slickest character you’ll ever see on screen. And let’s not forget the genius gag of him supposedly being sent to jail but ending up in a zoo instead—easily one of the funniest moments in the movie.
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” appears to take place not long after 1993’s “The Wrong Trousers,” yet it cleverly integrates today’s A.I.-driven technology into its plot, creating a delightful temporal inconsistency that only animated features can pull off. This minor detail doesn’t detract from the story—in fact, the Norbots are one of the movie’s standout elements. While their design isn’t as immediately marketable as Gromit or Feathers McGraw, it works perfectly within the film. With their slightly unsettling appearance, they manage to look eerie even before switching to their sinister settings, adding a quirky edge to the movie’s charm.
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” is easily one of the best movies of 2025, but with its release as a Netflix exclusive on January 3rd, it risks being reduced to just another thumbnail in the app which will be lost in the crowd. A movie like this deserves a proper cinematic release, a physical edition shortly after, and availability on multiple streaming platforms. It’s the kind of film that should be accessible to as many people as possible, not quietly tucked away.
