By Linda Winsh-Bolard
Love! Love is eternal! All beings are susceptible to tender feelings, flattery, and all those things that we call love.
Even Wallace. Twice he had lost ladies that he was interested in. But still ...
Wallace is now settled, with faithful Gromit, in a new life: they have opened a successful bakery. Dough to Door bakes loaves, muffins and all things doughy; every morning Wallace and Gromit deliver the goods door to door. Gromit drives which gives Wallace the opportunity to look around and wake up.
These days they should be on lookout: twelve bakers were murdered already.
But Wallace doesn’t think of that when he sees and apparition in white on a bicycle: the Bake O Lite girl from bake light industries, Wallace’s vision of female beauty.
The lady, called Piella, is now rather hefty woman accompanied by a white poodle, but she seems to return Wallace’s feelings with alacrity.
Only Gromit remains suspicious. Loyal, long suffering, patient Gromit. Good chap, smart that is, is Gromit. I’d say, maybe there is a reward for such a fellow? A smart, brave gal, somewhere, to help him manage the quirky inventor he lives with?
This film departs from the usual story line and the new character, Piella, is given as much space as the Wallace and Gromit. Of course, it is also a murder mystery.
It is, as always, animated with detailed precision, shows plenty of ingenious mechanical devices that make Gromit and Wallace lives easier, and features prominently Gromit’s quiet wisdom (those eyebrows!). The animators fills each scene with wonderfully three dimensional developments, there is always well worked simultaneous front and back action, that differentiates Aardman Animation films from any other in the world (there is no American influence in this one). The richness and fun is in the picture, not the story line.
This time it is also about follies of humanity, blind when they are sexually attracted, a folly that overwhelms when celebrities are involved. It takes aim at an industry promising what it cannot deliver (bake light products made its model so heavy that the advertising campaign dropped her) and the courage of the forgotten.
There are plenty of jokes spun of popular movies, nicely rendered, but they don’t help the main weakness of the story: it is predictable. And for a predictable story line, original jokes are a must.
It remains distinctly British, in language, and rendition. But it has moved from gentle observation to a farce, sometimes repetitive, that does not suits it. Gentle and sardonic made Wallace and Gromit special, the director would do best to stay with it. After all, their product has become nearly a trade mark. Still, it is fun to watch.
This is the fourth short story for these claymation characters. It is 30 minutes long. Current movie theaters never seem to comprehend that combining all four episodes of Wallace and Gromit would make a wonderful theatrical experience. Sorry. But it is available on DVD.
The film received best Short Animation Award from BAFTA. In the best tradition of Wallace and Gromit, the trophy broke immediately in director Nick Park’s hands.
Directed Nick Park, Written by Bob Baker and Nick Park, Music: Julian Notts
Voice Cast:
Peter Sallis ... Wallace
Sally Lindsay ... Piella
Melissa Collier ... Fluffles
Sarah Laborde ... Bake O Lite Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Geraldine McEwan ... Miss Thripp (uncredited)
