Chicken Run: Operation Nugget

This sequel to 'Chicken Run' arrives after 23 years, but don't worry, being animated the returning cast haven't aged a bit! Although the story picks up where the original left off, this is an entirely new adventure and you don't really have to see the first film to follow the story, although it is highly recommended. The opening to 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget' recaps the events of the first film in a nutshell.

The chickens are living happily on an island away from humans, and Ginger and Rocky starts a family. Their daughter is Molly. No sooner has she become a teenager than she becomes curious about the world and what lies on the other side of the lake. When trucks arrive and start clearing the forest, the chickens devise a plan to shelter themselves from human vision, but Molly wants to explore...and so she does.

She befriends a chicken named Frizzle, and together the head to Fun-Land Farms where they believe chickens to live happy lives, according to an advert they saw. Off course the farms are not what it seems, and they soon get into trouble.

It's up to Ginger, Rocky and some of their friends to save them. Last time they broke out of a chicken farm; this time they're breaking in. A familiar antagonist from the first film returns, as well, but I won't spoil it for you.

I enjoyed the stop-motion animation, the characters, their adventures, and the humour. This is a delightful film young and old can enjoy. The film also illustrates how the younger generation are not always appreciative of what their parents went through to ensure their survival, and I don't think youngsters watching this will fully understand. These are lessons a mature audience will relate to.

As much as I enjoyed 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget', I enjoyed 'Chicken Run' more, because it was simpler and funnier.

For me, this sequel was a decent continuation of the original. It was based on the same concept as the original with some minor additions.

The story was simple and light hearted just like the original, the screenplay was decent, the direction was decent, the animation was unique like the original and the voice actors did a good job. The thrill elements were embedded nicely in the story which makes this normal story little bit enjoyable.

But to be honest, I think this sequel was unnecessary as it was underwhelming if we compare it to the original. Overall, this movie was a decent entertainer.

After watching this movie during the day on Christmas Eve with my Mum, Dad and my brother Jordy for lunch here's my spoiler-free review of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget! As usual, I'll be talking about my thoughts, my favourite moments & comparing the other Aardman shorts and my conclusion/rating! After the 2000s original Chicken Run, we finally have a sequel all of it was claymation but there was one that wasn't! A lot of cast members from the original did not return some were recast but the voice cast that did come back were Jane Horrocks as Babs, Imelda Staunton as Bunty, Lynn Ferguson as Mac & a surprise return was Miranda Richardson as Mrs Tweedy! I waited this long to write my review so I can be honest about it earlier in 2023 I wrote a spoiler-free review for Star Wars: Visions Vol. II Episode IV: I Am Your Mother which I enjoyed very much! Comparing this to Star Wars, Early Man, Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit (which is finally getting a new film after we lost Peter Sallis back in 2017 6 years ago) it's not as good as the previous instalment! Overall I'm sure kids will enjoy this and I look forward to seeing what Aardman does next! That's why I gave this a 6/10! Go check out the other mini-movies while you wait for more & I'm certain that you, your kids and the whole family will be entertained by them! ;-)

Say what you want about the man but Mel Gibson is sorely missed, that was one of many mistakes this movie made. Flat, boring, pretty, but not fun. The original stands as a childhood favorite that I've watched with my kid many times but nugget of whatever, will be forgotten in a week. Yet another in a long list of agenda filled Netflix blunders. When will they learn? (Side note about Netflix as a production company: finally canceling my subscription after ANOTHER price hike, removing Christmas movies around the holidays, while other services put them behind pay walls is just a greedy, disgusting practice imo, streaming is out of control and people are finding alternatives)

Not as good as the first one as the setting is a lot more fantastical and silly, but it still has the Aardman charm and style with goofy looking characters and inventive contraptions. The plot clearly shows its inspiration from classic films and whilst being a bit too long, it has lots of humour, jokes and wacky adventures to keep it entertaining. The different voice actors aren't as good and the modern pop song at the start felt out of place, but the animation is great (if less hand-made) and full of vibrant colours and it has those little touches which make it something special.

Overall score = 7/10.