There is something inherently interesting about movies that decide to make a come back after a significantly long break between entries. Sometimes this is because the story needs the time to breath, or the characters need the break to grow with their audience to create a more meaningful impact. Think something along the lines of Toy Story to Toy Story 3, and, moreover, 4; the target audience for that was younger children and was a success and by the time the third and fourth installments came out, the audience was certainly closer to Andy’s age. Now, this all goes back to the movie we are looking at today, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, a sequel 23 years later, again. While some of the voice cast and two writers return, most of it is new cast and creatives. So the question has to be asked, does a sequel this much later stand the test of time? Will the initial target audience, an older child/young adolescent, still care about a Chicken Run?
L-R: Rocky voiced by Zachary Levi and Ginger voiced by Thandiwe Newton in CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET. Photo Credit: Aardman / Netflix. © 2023 Netflix, Inc.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget plays as a double entendre as the film focuses on the child of Ginger and Rocky (Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi, respectively) named Molly (Bella Ramsey). The family is residing on their peaceful sanctuary we saw them escape to at the end of Chicken Run. However, there is a nearby area that has chickens that Ginger and the rest of the crew mostly ignore, but when Molly finds herself intrigued by the new area as she meets a friend who was released for being unfit, Ginger realizes the terrors they left behind have slowly creeped back up. Ginger, Rocky, and the rest of the gang need to break into Fun-Land Farms after Molly is trapped there. Upon entering Fun-Land Farms, which seems like an Al’s Toy Barn sort of villainy, there is someone much more sinister lurking, wanting their revenge on Ginger and all chicken kind.
L-R: Molly voiced by Bella Ramsey, Rocky voiced by Zachary Levi, and Ginger voiced by Thandiwe Newton in CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET. Photo Credit: Aardman / Netflix. © 2023 Netflix, Inc.
First and foremost, Aardman, which is the animation studio behind the first movie and the Wallace and Gromit movies and spinoffs, lends their talent to Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and that gives this sequel a much-needed boost. While the animation is simply sublime, if the film misses for audiences it is at least 101 minutes of absolute stunning animation to get lost in. Their rich colours and style bring to life absolutely every moment in the film and truly highlight the animation and the art form that usually gets shoved to the side or labeled as children’s genre.
L-R: Dr Fry voiced by Nick Mohammed, Mrs. Tweedy voiced by Miranda Richardson, and Reginald Smith voiced by Peter Serafinowicz in CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET. Photo Credit: Aardman / Netflix. © 2023 Netflix, Inc.
For a movie that will inevitably get disregarded as a children’s film, much like the first film, there is a lot of adult and darker content that lays within the movie. This is all to say that animation is a medium for all ages and should not be relegated and disregarded as children’s work. The movie itself boasts a lot of messages that are certainly not suitable for children, as they handle death, the poultry industry, and how disturbing it is; while not completely bringing the horrors to the forefront, it is much darker and disturbing than it initially lays on. There is a lot to digest with the story from Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run), John O’Farrell (Never Mind the Horrocks), and Rachel Tunnard (Military Wives). Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget focuses on our heroes from the first movie and their new family in a reversal of the first story as they’re breaking in to Fun-Land Farms and the butchery instead of trying to escape, but the repetition of themes is certainly present. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is suitable for older children and above, as the themes of death and danger are heavily presented throughout.
A scene from CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET. Photo Credit: Aardman / Netflix. © 2023 Netflix, Inc.
While watching the film, it becomes apparent that the cast was mostly chosen for their name recognition over their ability to do voice work. While the first movie certainly had some large names in it, as well, it didn’t rely on them too heavily and their voice work was inspired and packed with passion. Unfortunately, the voice work throughout this movie falls short. No one seems to be particularly inspired or passionate with their efforts and it brings down the film slightly. While the story certainly carries the film for the audience, there needed to be a stronger voice cast to lead the brigade and bring the story and beautiful animation to the forefront to make Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget warrant multiple dippings instead of a singular dunk into the sauce.
In select theaters in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles December 8th, 2023.
Available on Netflix December 15th, 2023.
Final Score: 3 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews, streaming
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