Wallace is an eccentric, cheese-loving English inventor and Gromit is his silent but competent canine companion who communicates eloquently (as do most dogs) with his eyebrows. I love the poster for this movie that labels Wallace as “master” and Gromit as “mind.” As in previous episodes, Wallace’s inventions lead to trouble that only Gromit can rescue him from.

For devotees of Wallace and Gromit, it has been a long wait for this film: it took 250 people nearly five years to complete it. Readers of my generation will remember Gumby as a wonderful stop-action clay animation TV program. Creator Nick Park has moved stop-action animation way beyond Gumby with Wallace and Gromit. This is art without computers, created and filmed at a rate of 100 seconds of footage per week. We should all pay to see this film just to reward the dedication of the animators.

For the over-twenty crowd, the chief attraction of these characters will be the parody they provide of British life and customs. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is no exception, as it plays on the stereotype of the English as deadly serious about their gardens. We are treated to the annual village Giant Vegetable Competition, which the were-rabbit threatens (the producers note that this is the world’s first vegetarian horror movie). This English village is populated with horticulturally minded characters such as the right Reverend Clement Hedges, the noble Lady Campanula Tottington (named after Nick Park’s favorite flower, the campanula) and common folk such as Mr. and Mrs. Mulch.

After enjoying this movie, the kids and I stopped by the store for a little cheese (Wendsleydale cheese, no less!) and crackers. It was, to quote Wallace, a “cracking good day”!