Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

With Wallace & Gromit, things go all dandy because they've now entered the big screen with The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Nick Park's creations of the famous dog and cheese loving inventor in all their fantastic adventures. There has been a long way concerning the creation of the 2 most famous characters in history of clay making and that's about some 16 years, because A Grand Day out with Wallace & Gromit aired in 1989 with significant success, it received a nomination for best short animated film as a Bafta win for the same category. And now they've entered the Hollywood screen and with much success even! Respected for its British humor and funny continuation of the famous pair, the movie was a hoot. Not as good however as Chicken Run because that movie had to build from scratch a reputation and succeeded through its witty humor, excellent character detail and flawless entertainment. And the score had to build on that success because many people will hear within seconds on this disc the remaining exuberance of Chicken Run, Powell and Gregson-Williams's most fun ever score. And long pair collaborator Julian Nott of course had to add a twinkle of that energy to this score, with added help to make it all sound believable of ex MV composers Rupert Gregson-Williams, James Michael Dooley, Alastair King and Lome Balfe. Why these guys are on board has probably got to do with recreating the Chicken Run flair (and Dreamworks insistence) and what each person contributed to this disc is a mystery. Luckily it feels that still the most comes from Julian Nott himself and all together, Wallace & Gromit may have the flair of Chicken Run, its got its own feel too and that is a joy to behold. Beginning with 'A Grand Day Out', you know you're in for a treat, with a true Chicken Run fanfare opening, leading to the main Wallace & Gromit theme of the series and the evil Rabbit's theme which is sinister but not too serious, and this works to the pleasing factor more then you ever dreamed off. With 'Anti-Pesto to the Rescue' you continue with the Rabbit theme, growing heroic music ala Chicken Run and the ever fun choral led adventure theme, making it all as lightweight as the figures.

There is a piece of fun in each track, its all too much to really mention or notice it, 'Lady Tottington & Victor' is baroque with harpsichord and is deliciously over the top, lovely choir is noticed after the heroic material in 'Fire up the Bun-Vac' while 'Your Ladyship' introduces a soft led loveliness for lady Tottington. 'Harvest Offering' is too fun for words, organ, tinkling Rabbit theme, drums and bells grow into a choral wash of strings and brass, creating all a menacing feel around the Rabbit theme. Or what about 'Arson Around' too leading the choir and organ in the sinister led theme of the Rabbit (and with brief Cape Fear horror). The heroic material with added adventure theme and a great Chicken Run feel with choir is leading 'A Big Trap' to the fun of excellence factor. Its especially fun the way the choir is playing a large but not to serious role in the whole score, more then in Chicken Run, like in 'Transformation'. The baroque music returns in 'Ravaged in the Night' and 'Fluffy Lover Boy' adds even big band music to the main theme in all good fun. Naturally, its the most fun when Nott and composers give the energy of Chicken Run the same feel with all the tricks Wallace & Gromit have to offer, and 'Kiss my Arrrtichoke' and 'Dogfight' is just plain amusement, the heroic explosion of brass, rhythm, themes and choir in all the whirling flute and drum action, its amazing fun to simply pinpoint each idea, instrument or theme behind it. 'Every Dog Has his Day' recreates the big band's music with the main theme while 'All Things Fluffy' adds the usual finale galore to the music. There is too much to discover on the CD, too much which makes the "to listen to again" factor a good one for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Naturally its not Chicken Run because Powell and Gregson-Williams added even more diversity and above all mind-blowing themes that Nott just couldn't create, but what he did brought is fun, pure fun and for that no one will be disappointed. Every person will have different tracks they adore, showing that the score does have something for all. One of those over the top but pleasure listens that no one will resist, with all the cheese making delights a W&G should contain.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. A Grand Day Out (1.54)

2. Anti-Pesto To The Rescue (3.18) Excellent Track

3. Bless You, Anti-Pesto (1.56)

4. Lady Tottington & Victor (2.03)

5. Fire Up The Bun-Vac (1.47)

6. Your Ladyship (1.05)

7. Brainwash & Go (2.26)

8. Harvest Offering (2.30)

9. Arson Around (2.24) Excellent Track

10. A Big Trap (3.27) Excellent Track

11. The Morning After (1.44)

12. Transformation (4.05)

13. Ravaged In The Night (1.44)

14. Fluffy Lover Boy (4.36)

15. Kiss My Arrrtichoke (4.31) Excellent Track

16. Dogfight (3.38) Excellent Track

17. Every Dog Has His Day (2.42)

18. All Things Fluffy (1.07)

19. Wallace & Gromit (1.08)

Total Length: 48.21

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