Technology and connection in Wallace and Gromit’s ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’
Is there a better Christmas gift than a new Wallace and Gromit movie? For many Brits who grew up with the franchise, it’s hard to beat. Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl premiered on Christmas Day 2024, marking their first film since 2005’s Oscar-winning The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. As expected, it delighted fans, staying true to the series’ charm.
Vengeance Most Fowl, directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, saw Wallace give his beloved companion an AI-powered gnome called Norbot, voiced by Reece Shearsmith. While Wallace thought the present was a nifty and time-saving device – he loves nothing more than a good invention, after all – Gromit wasn’t so keen. Now feeling as though his love for gardening, a time-consuming yet creative hobby, has been undermined, Gromit finds himself experiencing a sense of disconnect from his owner. Meanwhile, Wallace decides to capitalise on his invention, creating more Norbots for the whole neighbourhood. What seems like an innocent idea completely backfires due to Wallace’s naivety and blind reliance on AI, as well as interference from the mighty villain Feathers McGraw.
The criminal penguin comes to represent the powerful figures who exploit technological developments for their own gain, and in this case, it’s good old-fashioned revenge. Feathers McGraw’s reprogramming of the AI robots causes significant chaos, with the army of Norbots turning evil and wreaking havoc in Wallace and Gromit’s lives. The film’s message is rather easy to glean – artificial intelligence can become a dangerous threat to humanity if it is left unregulated and easily manipulable, with Wallace symbolising the naive yet good-intentioned consumer and Feathers the selfish profiteer.
Wallace’s predicament is a dilemma of his own doing, subsequently reminding him – and us – to think more carefully before indulging in technology that ignores the power and creativity of individuals. If he hadn’t got so carried away with making Norbot, an invention that ignored Gromit’s hobby, he might have realised that what he was making wasn’t as useful as he first thought. By the end of the film, after almost losing Gromit in a tense chase scene, Wallace comes to realise that he has been prioritising exciting new inventions instead of his relationship with Gromit.
The importance of companionship, connection, and community is emphasised at the end of the film when Wallace shows Gromit the repurposed Pat-O-Matic and a now back-to-normal Norbot. He reassures Gromit that they are simply handy tools to aid his gardening, not his replacements, telling him, “There’s some things a machine just can’t do, eh lad?” before giving him a good pat on the head. Wallace finally learns not to take Gromit for granted because, in spite of everything, they need each other – they’re best friends and family. It’s their loveable companionship that draws us back to their world with each film, and it’s why the franchise is so beloved.
Not only are the films charming and fun, but they unite us. No matter who you are, if you’ve grown up in Britain, there’s a strong chance you’ve gathered around the television to watch Wallace and Gromit with friends or family – often on occasions like Christmas – regardless of your usual tastes.
For many people, Wallace and Gromit will be one of the only animated forms of media they watch, and it’s one of the rare pieces of media that can get everyone from children to millennials to elderly people excited. You can watch Wallace and Gromit with your five-year-old child or your 55-year-old mother, and both will likely find equal enjoyment. These aren’t films aimed at kids that adults will also like, and they’re not adult-only animations either – they’re truly for everyone.
If any piece of media is going to warn us about the dangers of AI, unite families, and remind us of the importance of connection (with both humans and dogs), it’s Wallace and Gromit. There’s a reason that Wallace and Gromit has remained such a prominent part of British culture – each film is lovingly and painstakingly crafted and given a universal appeal that few films offer in the same way. With Vengeance Most Fowl, the franchise emphasised its ability to explore timely topics, too, and the message of the most recent instalment is one that feels more relevant than ever.