2000, 1 hr 25 min., Rated G.�Dir: Nick Park, Peter Lord. Voices of: Julia Sawalha (Ginger), Mel Gibson (Rocky), Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), Mr. Tweedy (Tony Haygarth), Benjamin Whitrow (Fowler), (Babs).

I keep trying to think of an angle that would help me write my review for Chicken Run. But I've got nothing, nada, zilch. I'll just have to write a straight-up look at a funny film that was entertaining on every level.

Having seen military escape movies The Great Escape and Stalag 17, I knew before going in that I would find some hilarious items in Chicken Run, and I was right. The film spoofs these two and other constantly in the way the chickens' living quarters are arranged like barracks surrounded by a high fence covered by wire, and the primary hut for planning is Hut 17.

The heroine, plucky clucker Ginger (voice of Julia Sawalha, the normal daughter on "Absolutely Fabulous), is the movie's Steve McQueen. She's always trying to escape from her "prison" but always caught and thrown in the "cooler," even as much as throwing a ball against the walls while waiting to rejoin her sisters in bondage.

Other popular films referenced include Braveheart ("They'll never take our freedom!"), Star Trek ("We need more power!") and I'm sure a couple of others that I didn't catch since the dialogue is quick and pointed, not to mention the hilarious training sequence and a great action scene as well.

Directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park of Aardman Animations, who have used the claymation format for 30 years and to great success with the Wallace & Gromit short films that won Oscars and were very popular among kids and parents. The film uses a clay-animation technique that allows a three-dimensional look and one gets used to quickly. The chickens look a lot alike, yet despite made out of clay show emotions with their perpetually wide eyes and big toothy grins and grimaces.

Chicken Run is a film for audiences of all ages and tastes. I don't want to ruffle any feathers (okay, that's a lie, I really do want to), but I can only surmise that the leaders of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) were watching Chicken Run with great cheer. This might be pleasant until you realize that they do so because PETA thinks real-life cluckers actually talk in proper sentence structure and have the ability to organize a revolution.

One might especially enjoy seeing the film with others using a mindset of "Mystery Science Theater 3000," since every chicken pun known to man (and fowl) will come to mind, and you'll want to share your good humor.