A Nostalgic Return to the Coop: A Review of “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”
For many, the names Peter Lord and Nick Park conjure up fond memories of animated classics like “Wallace and Gromit,” “Shaun the Sheep,” and “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” These Aardman Animations productions stood out from the CGI-dominated landscape of DreamWorks and Pixar, thanks to their distinctive stop-motion animation that breathed unique character into every plasticine figure. In 2000, “Chicken Run,” a clever reimagining of John Sturges’ “The Great Escape,” became a box-office phenomenon, grossing over $227 million. This record remained untouched by other stop-motion films like Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” and Henry Selick’s “Coraline.” Despite its success, a sequel remained elusive for over two decades. Finally, Netflix has delivered “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” but without Lord and Park at the helm. Instead, Sam Fell, co-director of “Flushed Away” and “ParaNorman,” takes the directorial reins.
Scene from “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”
A New Generation Takes Flight
“Dawn of the Nugget” picks up on a seemingly idyllic island sanctuary, where Ginger (Thandiwe Newton), Rocky (Zachary Levi), Babs (Jane Horrocks), and the rest of the escaped chickens have found refuge. Ginger and Rocky are now parents to the adventurous Molly (Bella Ramsey), who embodies her mother’s rebellious spirit. Molly’s insatiable curiosity sets the plot in motion when she ventures beyond the island’s borders and stumbles upon a seemingly utopian chicken farm – a place where every hen dreams of becoming a nugget.
Scene from “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”
A Technological Leap Forward
Two decades have brought significant advancements in animation, and “Dawn of the Nugget” showcases this progress. In the original film, Lord and Park were limited by practical constraints, with the action primarily confined to the farm, the Tweedy’s house, and the chicken coop. Each scene was painstakingly crafted from plasticine, with minimal visual effects. This placed a greater emphasis on the characters as the driving force of the narrative. “Dawn of the Nugget” reverses this approach. While the characters remain plasticine, the backgrounds are largely computer-generated. The chicken island is rendered with subtle lighting effects, and the chicken farm is transformed into a colossal, futuristic structure reminiscent of a space station or the Pentagon.
Scene from “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”
Familiar Themes, New Dangers
Narratively, “Dawn of the Nugget” plays it safe. Fell and his team deliver an expanded version of the original, even bringing back the antagonist, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson). The chickens once again fight for their freedom, this time battling not just against enslavement but also against their own fears and anxieties. Ginger grapples with PTSD, triggered by any reminder of her traumatic past, and struggles with the idea of leaving the island. This anxiety is mirrored in Molly, who, like any teenager, is experiencing a rebellious phase. While the first “Chicken Run” drew parallels to Nazi concentration camps, the sequel adopts the tropes of a tyrannical dystopia. Mrs. Tweedy creates a seemingly perfect chicken paradise, which hides the same old horrors beneath its deceptive facade.
Following well-worn genre conventions, Fell and his team have created a comfortable and accessible film that is both familiar and somewhat original. The tried-and-true formula of Hollywood sequels works effectively, attracting audiences without alienating fans. Peter Lord and Nick Park remain in the background as executive producers, while Sam Fell takes on the role of a dutiful apprentice. “Dawn of the Nugget” doesn’t aspire to be a groundbreaking sequel like “Terminator 2.” Instead, it’s a solid addition to Netflix’s collection, providing them with their own in-house “Chicken Run” franchise.