Chicken Run

Movie Name: Chicken Run
Year of Release: 2000

Director: Peter Lord, Nick Park

Stars: Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, Tony Haygarth, Benjamin Whitrow, 

Genre: Comedy, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
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Synopsis:

Directors Peter Lord and Nick Park, had already established themselves as great directors of animated features by the time "Chicken Run" came out. Nick Park had already won three Oscars for animated shorts with his iconic characters, Wallace and Gromit. "Chicken Run" follows the adventures of a series of chickens at a chicken farm, which is depicted like a prisoner's camp. If the chickens fail to produce enough eggs, they are killed for food. One of the lead chickens, Ginger, has dreamt of fleeing the chicken farm with her friends. She starts devising a plan when a rooster by the name of Rocky comes into play, with knowledge of how to fly. With his assistance, Ginger starts putting together a plan to evade the lethal chicken farm.
"Chicken Run" is a film filled with humor and references such as the classic "The Great Escape" from John Sturges (where a series of prisoners tries to evade a German prisoner camp during World War II). The film has all the trademarks that have become a staple for all of Aardman's films: the irreverence, the stop motion and aesthetic style, the cinematic references to iconic and classic films, caustic sense of humor, and the improbably hero, who has to overcome self doubt and still save the day against all odds. "Chicken Run" has all of the traits mentioned before, on top of which is served by the voices of a diverse and talented cast, which brings a uniqueness to each and every one of the characters. It's a film filled with such joy, good humor, and stunning animation, that one can't help but just be surrendered by such a fantastic universe. A very good film always worth watching.