Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a comedy about a giant vegetable contest, and it is the rare sequel that improves on its predecessor. The film, directed by Steve Box and Nick Park, continues the adventures of Wallace, the cheese-loving inventor, and his silent but clever dog Gromit. But this time the stakes are higher: a wererabbit threatens to ruin the town’s annual veggie-growing contest, and Wallace and Gromit must clear the streets of garden pests to stop it.
The film is a stop-motion comedy, made in the same Aardman Animations style that gave the pair their start. Wallaces and Gromits are still the stars, but the story expands to include a wider cast of voicework talent, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Peter Kay. The result is a film that feels bigger without losing the charm that made the first Wallace & Gromit films work.
Trailer, via Netflix Family.
The Town of Wallersey
The story takes place in the fictional town of Wallersey, where Wallace and Gromit run a business that clears garden pests from people’s gardens. Their methods are humane, which means their home fills up with displaced vermin. When a giant vegetable contest draws every townsperson to plant their best cabbages and carrots, Wallace and Gromit are given the job of keeping the rabbits away.
The contest has been held for 517 years, run by Lady Campanula Tottington, who is played by Helena Bonham Carter. Her suitor, Victor Quartermaine, voiced by Ralph Fiennes, steals parts from Wallace’s Mind-O-Matic machine to keep Gromit and Wallace from finding the solution to the mystery. The film spends its runtime building a mystery around the wererabbit that threatens to ruin the contest, with Wallace and Gromit stumbling upon clues along the way.
Wallace’s Mind-O-Matic and the Giant Vegetable Contest
The plot revolves around a machine Wallace built called the Mind-O-Matic. It is a device that can swap minds, and it has accidentally swapped the minds of Wallace and a rabbit named Hutch. That swap is the engine of the story: Wallace, played by Peter Sallis, becomes Hutch, and Hutch becomes Wallace. Hutch is a captive rabbit who was originally trapped in Wallace’s machine, and he swaps roles with Wallace after an accident.
The machine is also central to the gameplay of the platform video game based on the film. In the game, players collect cards by completing tasks given by other characters, regaining the valves from Wallace’s Mind-O-Matic machine, or finding hidden cards. The town’s districts are laid out as four separate areas: The Town Centre, Wallersey the harbor area, Grimsley the industrial area, and Tottington Hall.
Gromit’s Shop in the Game
Gromit can visit Mr. Caliche’s shop to buy items that help grow the marrow he is preparing for the Giant Vegetable Competition. The shop is a running thread in the game, where players can purchase upgrades and supplies. The game is divided into four districts, and in each district there is at least one arena, an area where Anti-Pesto must clear pests.
At night, Wallace is replaced by Hutch in the arenas. Wallace, Gromit, and Hutch each carry a primary pest-catching device, the BunGun. The BunGun is used to suck up pests and shoot them into a drain, where the pests are transported through the sewage system into Wallace and Gromit’s basement, where they are kept captive.
The Were-Rabbit’s Energy
The BunGun is the central tool in the film’s action scenes, though the film never shows the same night-time arenas the game does. In the game, nightfall is a distinct mode, and Gromit and Hutch can use the BunGun as a weapon to destroy were-creatures with a swing. Once dead, their were energy is stored in the BunGun, and can be used to destroy more creatures.
That energy can also be used to stun the Were-Rabbit. The game is structured around collecting cards to advance, and residents of the game’s districts give tasks in exchange for cards. The film’s humor comes from Wallace’s inventions and his obliviousness to the danger around him, while Gromit remains the calm, rational force that keeps the duo from disaster.
The Vermin and the Contest
The film’s comedy is built on the contrast between Wallace’s attempts to solve problems with inventions and Gromit’s attempts to clean up the messes those inventions create. Wallace’s inventions are always well-intentioned, but they almost always backfire. Gromit, on the other hand, is the one who has to fix the messes, and he does so with quiet, efficient competence.
The townspeople are also a source of humor, each with their own quirks and obsessions. The Reverend Clement Hedges, voiced by Nicholas Smith, is one example of the film’s supporting cast, a group that also includes Mrs. Mulch, voiced by Liz Smith; Mr. Windfall, voiced by John Thomson; and Mr. Mulch, voiced by Dicken Ashworth.
The Cast and the Voices
The voice cast is a mix of familiar faces and new talent. Peter Sallis returns as Wallace, and his delivery remains the film’s comic engine. Ralph Fiennes brings a menace to Victor Quartermaine, the suitor who steals the Mind-O-Matic machine’s valves. Helena Bonham Carter plays Lady Campanula Tottington with a mix of haughty and desperate energy.
Peter Kay voices PC Mackintosh, the police officer who keeps trying to close down Wallace and Gromit’s pest-removal business. Mark Gatiss voices Miss Blight, and Vincent Ebrahim voices Mr. Caliche. Geraldine McEwan voices Miss Thripp, and Edward Kelsey voices Mr. Growbag.
The Were-Rabbit’s Final Attack
The climax of the film centers on the were-rabbit itself. Wallace and Gromit must stop it from ruining the Giant Vegetable Competition, and the solution involves a combination of Wallace’s inventions and Gromit’s quick thinking. The film builds to a finale that brings the town’s residents together to face the threat, with Wallace and Gromit at the center of the action.
The film’s humor is gentle, but it carries a genuine sense of danger. The were-rabbit is a real threat, and the film invests in the stakes of the contest. That investment makes the comedy land more than it would if the villain were just a cartoon.
Comparing the Film and the Game
The film and the game share a world and a story, but they are different experiences. The game, developed by Frontier Developments and published by Konami, was released on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It was released in North America in September, in Europe and Australia in October, and in Japan in March 2006 for PlayStation 2, with a version for GameCube announced but never released.
The game expands on the film’s world by adding a card-collecting system and a night-time arena mode. Players collect cards by completing tasks, regaining stolen valves, or finding hidden cards. The game’s districts are the same as the film’s setting, and the BunGun’s pest-suction and drain system is a central mechanic throughout.
The Verdict on the Film
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a worthy follow-up to the earlier films in the series. It expands the world of Wallersey without losing the focus on the odd couple of Wallace and Gromit. The film’s humor is gentle, but it carries a genuine sense of danger.
The film runs 85 minutes, and it is packed with invention, humor, and a mystery that is genuinely engaging. It is a film that works for children and adults, and it honors the characters that fans have come to know.
| Release Date | Region | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| September 2005 | North America | PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| October 2005 | Europe, Australia | PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| March 2006 | Japan | PlayStation 2 |
Key Facts
- Runtime: 85 minutes
- Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
- Directors: Steve Box, Nick Park
- Writers: Nick Park, Bob Baker, Steve Box, Mark Burton
- Tagline: “Something wicked this way hops.”
The film’s score sits at 7.1 out of 10, a mark that reflects its standing as a solid, enjoyable entry in the series. It is not the best Wallace & Gromit film, but it is a strong one, and it sets the stage for the adventures that would follow.
The film is worth watching for its humor, its animation, and its heart. Wallace and Gromit remain two of the most beloved characters in stop-motion comedy, and this film shows why. It is a film that respects its characters and gives them a story worth telling.
The film’s ending resolves the mystery of the were-rabbit, and it sets up the next chapter of Wallace and Gromit’s adventures. It is a satisfying conclusion to this particular tale, and it leaves the door open for more.
The film is available to rent or own on various platforms, and it remains a staple of family-friendly animation. It is a film that rewards repeat viewings, and it stands as one of the best entries in the Wallace & Gromit series.
The film’s score of 7.1 out of 10 reflects its standing as a solid, enjoyable entry in the series. It is not the best Wallace & Gromit film, but it is a strong one. It is a film that honors the characters that fans have come to know, and it sets the stage for the adventures that would follow.
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