CHICKEN RUN G
Starring Mel Gibson, Julia Sawahla, and Miranda Richardson
Eric says: ******* 1/2 (7 1/2)
The chickens at Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy's egg farm in England are in for a change in their lives. At about the time that a performing rooster crash-lands into their coop, the Tweedys set to increase profits by making chicken pot pies. These events converge to further strengthen one hen's (Sawahla) resolve to escape.
Made in the likeness of a good old-fashioned POW escape ensemble film, the chickens play the parts to a tee. Stop-motion clay animation brings these chicks to life, teeth and all. (By the end of the film, chickens without teeth will seem utterly absurd.) The story is involving, the pacing tight, the humor plentiful.
Gibson is fun as a cocky rooster whose hiding a secret or two that may greatly affect the gaggle. Richardson's simply splendid as the evil imprisoner of chickens. Even her husband calls her Mrs. Tweedy.
If you wanted to, you could even glean a deeper message about POW and internment camps, or the trap that we're all in just in our day to day lives. But do yourself a favor: instead, enjoy watching clay chickens getting even with their human captors. Enjoy the personification of said chickens. Enjoy the little dance sequence. Viva la chicken!