Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

They're at it again and this time they've taken up baking, who could have anything against that? Enter Piella, a new love interest for lonely Wallace and Fluffles the Poodle who catches Gromit's eye.

Another classic from the Aardman studios, full of filmic references and gentle humour. The animation and set designs are fantastic and it's amazing how much Gromit can say with just his face considering he's made of clay. I also love the wacky way the writers and designers think a bakery run by these two would work and still include Wallace's wake up routine.

A superb story with cracking one liners and all the mayhem associated with Bumbling Wallace and his ever faithful Pooch.

I wonder if Piella will ever come back again?

I do agree with the other commentators that it isn't quite as good as Wrong Trousers or Close Shave, but there is still plenty to enjoy here. I can see completely why it was the most watched Christmas programme on British Television. Technically, it is a wonder. Even after thirteen years, the claymation is so good. And there are plenty of visual jokes to delight even the fussiest adult or child, like Puppy Love by Doggy Osmond. I just have to mention the ending, it was hilarious, with Wallace shouting "Gromit I've got a bomb in my pants". It was so silly I couldn't help laughing, so much so my sides were really sore. Sally Lindsey was impressive as Piella Bakewell, and Peter Sallis still proves that at 87 he could still do a competent job as ever as Wallace. Gromit still delights with his priceless facial expressions, and the little dog was enough to make you go "awww!" The storyline was quite dark in tone, even more so than the predecessors, but the constant visual jokes kept my family entertained. If I had one quibble, it would be that the pace of the episode was a bit too fast, but overall this was hugely enjoyable. 9/10 Bethany Cox.

Having gone all Hollywood on us it was a surprise to see Wallace and Gromit back on the small screen with this 30 minute short (which sounds harsh considering the years that goes into making them) for Christmas 2008.

It's great fun from start to finish. Loads of lovely verbal jokes, as well as the classic Aardman style of visual jokes you only see on second viewing.

Peter Sallis is as ever the perfect voice for Wallace, and is much missed.

The bar is set pretty high where Wallace and Gromit are concerned, and while I don't think this short is up there with 'A Close Shave' or 'The Wrong Trousers' it's certain good fun.

Wallace and Gromit have a new business venture and it is going down a storm. Having carried out some renovation on their house, they are now an operating bakery who deliver bread to your door. Of course, paranoid Gromit is concerned about the recent murders of twelve bakers in the town but it barely registers to Wallace. Pat of the reason for this is that he has a new focal point in his life as the Piella, the former Bake O Light bread girl is in town and seems just as enamoured by Wallace as he is by her. The romance begins while Gromit smells a rat.

The Wallace & Gromit films are mostly famous for the couple of big Christmas episodes they did that made them famous across the world and I was fine with the BBC holding this special back till Christmas Day because it did seem like their natural home. This film has a plot structure similar to A Close Shave in that the twosome are running a business which has some sinister activity by others associated with it. The fact that it happens to be murder in this case is perhaps a little dark for Christmas Day but it didn't matter because it does not stop it being fun. The plot goes where you expect and I really enjoyed it even though I didn't particularly like Piella or Fluffles as characters – but for me it will be a while before I enjoy any character as much as I did Feathers McGraw. The plot allows for plenty of movie references, some of which you need to "get" to find it funny but mostly you don't. Aliens and Batman are the obvious two but there are others.

The comedy also works in the detail, whether it be the inventive intricacies of the many devices that make up the house or the expressions on the faces of the characters. Yet again Gromit comes out as my favourite character and yet again I am amazed how they manage to get such expression onto his face. Sallis brings harmless charm to Wallace and it is hard to imagine that anyone could ever have done it as well as him. Lindsay is OK but I didn't like her character myself. If the film does have specific weaknesses the they are in two areas, both of which can be seen when you compare this to the mastery of The Wrong Trousers. Firstly, the pace is a bit too quick. I know it is 30 minutes but there did seem to be little in the way of build before it was into the meat and then over. The second weakness is that the closing set piece, while being a good Aliens reference, is not in the same league as the end of The Wrong Trousers or even A Close Shave. It is a shame but it doesn't have the thrill or creativity of that.

That said, it is still a very good piece of entertainment and it does feel right to have them as part of Christmas Day again. English charm, almost no jokes that would offend, inventive writing and animation and a solid plot – perhaps not as good as they have been but it is really hard to complain because it still delivers.

This was the first Wallace & Gromit short to be made after the big world wide theatrical release and success of the full length animated movie "Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit". By now the entire world and- not just England anymore, knew who Wallace & Gromit were. This of course made expectations higher than usual and putted on pressure on Nick Park and the rest of the crew. "Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death'" however does what all other previous Wallace & Gromit shorts had also already done in the past and that is to bring some cracking and good looking simple entertainment.

It's probably not as hilarious to watch as the previous Wallace & Gromit shorts but the movie is nevertheless entertaining and of course impressive as well to look at. The animations and possibilities have all advanced, which provides "Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death'" with some even more impressive looking sequences.

The movie is probably less hilarious to watch because of its story. It's a quite sinister- and more of a thriller type of plot. All other Wallace & Gromit movies already sort of had this but this movie just a bit more than others. I must say that the movie even tends to drag a little at points but luckily the movie has more than enough redeeming qualities to qualify this movie as simple a great- and highly entertaining movie.

Another triumph for the Aardman studios.

8/10

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