Yes, we were the only people there without children in tow to provide us with a cover story, and yes, the girl at the till did struggle not to laugh openly. But so what? We were there to have a laugh, and that's what we got.
I've loved previous Aardman feature films like The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Chicken Run. Not just for the humour and imagination in story itself, but for the underlying depth of wit that has little throwaway visual and verbal gags scattered throughout. There are so many references to classic film scenes and other icons from the past that the experience is totally wasted on children, and turn these into movies that repay a second watch to catch all the gratuitous jokes you missed first time around.
Shaun first came to us in the Wallace and Gromit classic short, A Close Shave, and I believe, although I've never seen it, that he's been the star of his own kids' programme. So perhaps it should be no surprise to find that this feature film lacks the rich underlying layer of whimsy I mentioned earlier. And there is nothing in the way of verbal comedy as there's no real dialogue. Which isn't to say it wasn't fun, and there were more than enough laugh out loud moments, the cleverness of the gags remains, the animation is to the usual high standard, and I have no regrets about going. There are a few moments which poke fun at some of the dafter aspects of our society, such as 'celebrity culture', but for the most part this is just straightforward slapstick.
If you do plan on seeing Shaun you'll have a good old laugh, but it's best not to expect another Chicken Run
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