Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures [DVD]

Not having seen these shorts on the big screen or DVD, I can't comment on the technical problems that some reviewers noticed. Technical problems or not, however, these films are a delight, and will certainly reward multiple viewings, which is why I'm glad I've bought this DVD as well as "Curse of the Were-Rabbit" for my own library. The verbal and visual jokes come so thick and fast that you're likely to miss half of them on the first viewing. And of course there are some jokes that are meant to be missed by innocent young children who won't know why their parents are convulsing with laughter: for example, the sign in the wool shop that says "Wool shortage, limit two balls per person." Wallace and Gromit are wonderful characters, and it's a pleasure to watch them develop together in these three films, as well as the short-short films called "Cracking contraptions." It's also fascinating to watch how the claymation process becomes more sophisticated as the series progresses. But right from the start, what marked this animation team was their loving attention to detail. Who but Wallace would provide his spacecraft with flowered wallpaper, framed pictures, and a floorlamp? Who but Gromit would want dog-bone wallpaper in his room and read books like "Electronics for Dogs?"

First of the series I saw was "The Wrong Trousers". I don't think I've ever laughed so much when watching a movie - and so did my mother who happened to watch it with me. From that moment Nick Park became #1 in my comedy movies list. The humor is very fun, quite clever at times, doesn't insult my intelligence (many hollywood comedies feature so stupid, bad jokes that I felt insulted intelligence-wise and treated like an idiot already at the age of seven) and is in no way offensive: his humor is always on the situation and in the ideas, it is always harmless. I'd choose 5 minutes of Nick Park over any other comedy out there - this is something so original you just have to see it. Of course, you can't appeal everybody, and I guess there are even people who don't find W&G fun :) This DVD is an excellent disc. It contains all three W&G animations Nick Park has so far created, and they are all very fun, especially The Wrong Trousers and "The Close Shave". The main characters are Wallace, a harmless, nice british fellow, witty inventor and yet somewhat simple in mind. His companion Gromit is a very intelligent, perhaps somewhat cynical - but good-hearted too - dog, who tends to save Wallace quite often from various troubles. I recommend watching all the movies several times as there are many, extremely fun details everywhere and you probably just can't notice all of them at first. I'd say Wallace & Gromit is somewhat similar to man and the naked gun -comedies without offensive parts, in innocent form. This is excellent stuff both for the kids and parents!

A joyful “at the movies” family time at home.

Exactly what was ordered.

I love these animated films. Remind me of Gumby or David & Goliath type films. The dry British humor cracks me up. Gromit, the dog, is way smarter than the man Wallace. My favorite is "A Grand Day Out" - a wacky take on flying to the moon. In one scene, Gromit reads a book called "Electronics for Dogs." Just gave this to my nephew and niece - age 6 and 3. They love it, and watch it over and over. I will get one for myself. It's just brilliant.

Who is better than Wallace and Gromit? I mean, seriously. Great animation, storyline, and always an action-packed climax! Nick Park is a very talented guy, who brought us such memorable characters.

If you're curious about the just-released "Wallace and Gromit" movie and aren't familiar with this veddy-British clay-mation series, check out this DVD that compiles the three short films and ten quickies featuring the daft duo. Wallace is a cheese-crazy, absent-minded inventor, while Gromit is his mute- but oh-so-bright- dog. Creator/animator Nick Park has paired them in these distinctive and droll stories: "A Grand Day Out", which sends them to the moon in search of cheese; "The Wrong Trousers", with its electronic pants and conniving crook in the form of a guest penguin; and "A Close Shave", involving a wool lady and her devious robot dog. "Wallace and Gromit", unlike most American cartoons, is not based on wacky one-liners or sitcom setups. With its stop-motion/retro look and spare dialogue, the films are clever in that dry British way. "Grand Day Out" does have hints of the outer-space "Looney Tunes", but the "Marvin Martian" role is played by...an antique stove? No matter. It works. "Wrong Trousers" and "Close Shave", both Oscar winners, bring the duo through paces that recall Hitchcock, "Carry-On" Britcoms, and Rube Goldberg contraptions. You may not laugh out loud, but I guarantee these characters and format will grow on you and make you smile. The "Cracking Contraptions" series- all no more than two minutes in length- are based on Wallace's latest inventions and Gromit's operating tricks, and many are true mini-gems. I loved the bits called "Socca-Matic" (a soccer-ball kicking machine), "Telly-Scope" (a TV remote that just might remind you of the old "Mousetrap" game), and "Chopper 13" (an electronic shopping cart). These show off the duo just as effectively as the longer films and may be an even better intro if, like me, you're used to more elaborate animation. The only major voice work is by Peter Sallis, now in his 80s, an old-time radio actor who gives Wallace his bemused, thick West-Country accent. Gromit, as noted, has no voice (or mouth!), but you know what he's doing thanks to classic eye moves and eyebrow twitches in the Chaplin/Keaton tradition. There's also a great little piece of cartoon music in all of the films- yes, even the quickies- the "Wallace and Gromit Theme", a jaunty music-hall ditty by Oxford-educated Julian Nott that, I guarantee, will become as familiar to you as the "Looney Tunes" theme. This is a no-frills package with very little bonus material; that, I suspect, is being saved for the "Were-Rabbit" DVD when it comes out. I wouldn't recommend this for all animation fans- again, if you're used to either old-line Disney or today's flashier, funnier fare, this is an acquired taste and a little slow to boot. But once you catch on to Park's droll style and the homemade (literally) look, you'll love it and look forward to the movie as I do. Or, like Gromit, you can read his favorite book: "Pluto's Republic".

Someone pass the Wensleydale cheese because it’s time to get cracking at these Smashingly good 3 episodes! This Dvd contains the main three episodes from your childhood and it’s just as marvelous as I remembered!

Just as described. 👍

発想の面白さはさることながら、丹念に仕上げられた独特な構想、そして古いギャグや映画のパロディも反って新鮮味を出し、ぴか一のユーモアセンスで三作品とも描かれているため大人も十分楽しめる。個人的なこだわりとして、収録の順序は、"A Grand Day Out"、"The Wrong Trousers"、"A Close Shave"にして欲しかったことと、"The Wrong Trousers"(「ペンギンに気をつけろ」邦題）の日本語吹替え版で一部曲の変更があり、バースデーカードには"happy birthday"が、ペンギンの留守中には"happy talk"の曲が使われて、オリジナルとは多少違うが、この点では吹替え版のほうが良かったように思われる。とにもかくにも天才奇才のニック・パークは映画をこよなく愛してるように思われる。こういう質の高い作品を子供には味わって貰いたい。 それにしても動物ってどんなキャラでも愛らしく思えるもんだ。