Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget features beautiful animation and great family comedy, but often feels repetitive of the first film.
Chicken Run fans have been waiting a long time for a sequel, and now the time has finally come — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget hits Netflix on December 15th. So was it worth the wait? While Dawn of the Nugget boasts incredible visuals and a fun story, it often feels too similar to the first movie. That said, it is something that fans are surely going to enjoy.
In the first film, the chickens were breaking out of the farm life. At the start of this one we see them happily living in the wild. Rocky and Ginger as still together, and now they have a daughter Molly. Molly has inherited the love of adventure that her parents have, which often keeps them on their toes.
One night she decides to go exploring and ends up inside a chicken factory, forcing her parents to do what they do best — plan a heist. Except this time, they are breaking in, instead of out!
It is here that Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget shines. The heist-like montages are filled with action, which is always funnier when done by chickens instead of humans. They make for some pretty great action sequences that are perfectly combined with just enough family friendly humor (and one or two zings for the adults) to keep the pace moving quickly and the entertainment levels on high.
The story is a simple one. One that we have seen many times over – even in the first Chicken Run film. This is both a pro and con of this movie because it keeps things on track, makes the plot points easy for all ages to understand, and reduces plot holes to a minimum. However, on the flip side it feels eerily similar to the first movie – complete with the very same villain.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget does a wonderful job reminding viewers of the occurrences from the original movie, which means there is no need to rewatch it in anticipation of the second one. In fact, if you do, you might feel like you are watching the same movie twice. Honestly, it could be a disservice to refresh your memory. This movie does it for you.
For those who have not seen Chicken Run, it is a great movie so we hope you do check it out. Eventually.
All you have to do is take one look at a trailer or even a still image from this film to know just how beautiful the animation is, so it should go without saying this is one of the best things about Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget — if not THE best.
Stop motion animation has always been captivating, but they truly go out of there way to do something special this time. It is amazing how far it has come and just how stunning it is on screen. This alone is why it should have had a theatrical release, because it would have really shined on the big screen.
Zachary Levi has replaced Mel Gibson as the voice of Rocky, and Thandiwe Newton has replaced Julia Sawalha as Ginger. This is likely in order to keep them sounding young and it is never a distraction, or feels off. In fact, both Levi and Newton shine in these roles. The comedic timing is on point, especially with Levi as Rocky, and viewers will never once miss the original voice cast.
There are heavy messages about parents letting their little ones leave the nest, literally and figuratively. This is something that all parents will be able to relate to, and is part of the reason the film will work for all members of the family.
Overall, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a fun movie that feels like a love letter to heist films. While very reminiscent of the first one, it still brings enough to the table to remain exciting. There are no surprises, as the plot is pretty straight forward and simple, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It truly shines when it comes to the stunning animation.
Families will love it, so be sure to check it out on Netflix December 15th.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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About Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Synopsis: From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman (Creature Comforts, Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep), and Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman and Flushed Away, respectively), comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run.
Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete.
But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in!
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget comes to Netflix December 15th.
