Chicken Run

A clay-animated spoof of The Great Escape and Stalag 17, set in a chicken coop kept by a tyrannical farmer's wife, Chicken Run serves up a fresh and charming self-confidence fable, told in the distinctive, malleable style of stop-motion animation genius Nick Park, creator of the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit shorts. The story centers around a daydreaming hen named Ginger (voice of Julia Sawalha), so determined to literally fly the coop that she's forever concocting failed getaway attempts. False hope arrives in the form of a cocky rooster (Mel Gibson) who charms the hens into believing he can teach them to fly; comedy and adventure ensue. Amazingly rendered and packed with personality, Chicken Run is lots of fun, but slow-paced and dependent on filler scenes to pad it out to feature length. Still, given its popularity, sell-through price, and family-friendly story, this is recommended. [Note: BBC Video is also releasing The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit, featuring all 3 of Nick Park's W&G shorts, on Nov. 21 for $19.98.] (R. Blackwelder)