Sometimes what you want is a great escape. Sometimes it doesn’t even need to be that great of an escape, but it helps if it’s inspired by The Great Escape…
What is it?
Chicken Run is a stop-motion film made by Aardman Animations (the same outfit did the earlier Creature Comforts) released in the year 2000.
What kind of story is it?
You have chickens. You have the means to make a bundle of money by switching over from selling eggs to selling chicken pot pies. But the chickens have other plans. Crafty plans.
Plans which fail again and again and again, mind you. Until one day, a stranger lands in their midst. Literally.
Why do you like it?
This is a silly, fun, clever, gently ridiculous little adventure comedy romp. It doesn’t ask much (acceptance of cartoon physics and talking animals, mostly) and what it gives in return is a lot of laughs.
What might one not like about it?
It is, more or less, a kids movie. Talking animals and so forth. Don’t hold that against it.
It does, more or less, star Mel Gibson. Don’t hold that against it either, if possible.
Other thoughts about it?
In terms of quotable quotes, Chicken Run is good value for money.
“I don’t want to be a pie… I don’t like gravy.”
“We’ll either die free chickens, or die trying.” “Are those the only choices?”
“They’re chickens, you dolt! Apart from you, they’re the most stupid creatures on this planet!”
“I wasn’t on holiday, Babs. I was in solitary confinement.” “Oh, it’s nice to get a bit of time to yourself, isn’t it?”
Where can I watch it?
You can rent it from some of the usual streaming sources (Amazon, Hulu, Google Play) or buy a shiny platter version.
Comments
One response to “3WA 2017 #38: Chicken Run”
The only time I ever saw Momzerduck laugh harder at something than she did at Chicken Run, was when we were watching Pride and Prejudice on PBS.
At one point, Mr D’arcy dismounted from his horse and walked/swam through a pond for no real good reason than anybody could see. For the rest of the episode, whenever he was on-screen and moving his feet, I quietly said “squish.” When he began running and I had to rapid-fire “squishsquishsquishsquishsquishsquishsquishsquish”, she was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe.
Chicken Run did much the same to her, just without my audio effects.