Now streaming on Netflix is the British stop-motion, adventure-comedy sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Directed by Sam Fell, and co-produced by Aardman Animation and Netflix Animation, the film features the vocal talents of Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Romesh Ranganathan, David Bradley, Daniel Mays, Lynn Ferguson, Nick Mohammed, and Miranda Richardson, and sees the chickens facing a new life-threatening predicament.
Picking up a few years after the events of 2000’s Chicken Run, all of the chickens who escaped from the Tweedy Farm are now living on an idyllic island. Self-sufficient and clearly very happy, the chickens are thriving, including Ginger and Rocky, who are now the proud parents to daughter, Molly.
As it stands, life on the island couldn’t be any better. That is, until Ginger begins to notice the arrival of some humans from Fun-Land Farms, who appear to be rounding up off-island chickens and taking them away to a new location.
This causes Ginger a great deal of concern. She remembers what life was like back at the Tweedy Farm, when humans ruled the roost, and she fears for everyone’s safety – especially the safety of Molly.
But as Ginger quickly discovers she can’t protect Molly from the real world forever, and when Molly is accidentally taken away to Fun-Land Farms, she has to mount a rescue. However, unlike in her previous adventure, where she had to break all of the chickens out of the farm, this time around she has to break everyone in!
It feels almost crazy to be saying this, but 23 years have passed since the release of the original Chicken Run. Within this time, a whole generation of kids who grew up watching the film are now off having their own kids, and the world has changed considerably.
However, what hasn’t changed in all this time is Aardman Animation’s ability to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable, creative and inventive piece of film – and that’s exactly what Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is. Sure, this belated sequel has taken a fair bit of time to get here, but it has been worth the wait.
As with its predecessor, as well as past Aardman offerings, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a fun-filled romp, which is loaded with jokes, quirky characters, and a rollicking sense of adventure. It’s daft, it’s dynamic, and it’s downright entertaining, and anyone who is young-at-heart will love it.
All of the old favourite characters are back for this new chapter, including the main players, Ginger and Rocky. The pair appear alongside fan favourites such as rat duo Nick and Fetcher, as well as knitting-obsessed, Babs, and the ever-dependable Fowler.
There’s also the return of a key figure from the chickens’ past, as well as the introduction of new characters including Molly and a Liverpudlian chicken named Frizzle. The eclectic mix of characters was one of the strengths of the original film, and it remains an important element here too.
Every chicken (and human) brings something fun to the story, and gets a chance to shine. If you’re worried this sequel will have forgotten all of the best chickens, don’t be, they are all here and they are all fabulous.
I should point out that while all the recognisable faces are present and correct on screen, not all of the original voice actors are back, so long-time fans will notice some of the characters might sound a little off. Thandiwe Newton replaces Julia Sawalha as Ginger, while Zachary Levi stands in for Mel Gibson as Rocky, and there are a couple of other voice actor changes too.
Do they work? Actually, yes.
It is a shame Sawalha wasn’t brought back to voice Ginger (she was deemed too old, apparently), and this is a misstep of the film, but it’s fair to say Newton and all of the other replacements do a fine job of taking over. In some cases, I doubt many audiences will notice the difference, and it certainly doesn’t impact the movie.
As with the previous film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget has been produced with an international audience in mind, but Aardman and director Sam Fell ensure there is a sense of Britishness throughout. This extends to the use of a Cliff Richard song, which pops up during a tense, yet brilliant finale, as well as the inclusion of the villain’s lair, which looks as if it has been borrowed from a James Bond foe.
Throw this together with all the usual sight gags, action scenes, and fun backdrops and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is classic Aardman through and through. Look carefully and you’ll also see thumb prints on the plasticine models, which are a nice reminder the production hasn’t strayed too far from the good old days of the Wallace & Gromit shorts.
If you’re currently in the process of sorting out a watchlist for the Christmas holidays, or you simply want something to keep everyone entertained before Santa arrives, then Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the answer. This is an amusing and likeable movie, which offers something for all ages.
__
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
One Response to Review: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)
The original Chicken Run was a big part of my childhood. Glad to hear that the sequel mainly holds up.
LikeLiked by 1 person