That is a pity, since they may well be the most universally beloved films I've ever seen. Every person I've ever introduced to The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave is instantly a fan of the stop-motion duo. The film are as visually rich, gutbustingly funny, and accessible to all ages as the golden age of Warner Brothers cartoons. These films stand up there with What's Opera, Doc? and One Froggy Evening as a triumph of the animator's art.
Why are the Wallace and Gromit films so good? Because they aren't cartoons. An odd criticism for a cartoon, eh? The best animated films feature characters who may be portrayed unrealistically visually, but who seem to be uniquely human in their actions. The Warner Brothers characters, some of the Disney characters, The Simpsons...all of these are humans, not cartoons. The horrible 60's and 70's Hanna-Barbera cartoons are clearly cartoons. Ditto the 80's toy-oriented shows. But Wallace and Gromit, despite being fictional animated characters, are thoroughly human.
The plots of both The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave are reminiscent of film noir: both are mysteries that threaten to tear the devoted dog-human duo apart. Not to worry however. An amazing amount of plot is inserted into the 30 minute running time of each film, yet nothing seems forced or rushed.
Aah, I'm tired of talking about them. I'd rather watch them again, instead.
Four stars
Copyright 1997 by Dale G. Abersold
