Wallace y Gromit: Un asunto de pan o muerte

Not as funny as the other Wallace and Gromit shorts, and certainly not as charming. Many of the jokes were spoofing well known films and would probably only be found funny by people that have seen them. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable enough and the animation, as always with Wallace and Gromit and with Aardman was top-notch which is great considering the fact that A Matter of Loaf and Death had the shortest production time for any Wallace and Gromit short so far.

It'll please the kids, that's for sure. The adult-pleasing jokes felt sparse but hit the mark. The story lacked the usual quirky charm of Wallace and Gromit but it still pretty much worked. I enjoyed the film but overall felt it lacked elements that made the previous ones so brilliant, so for me it's a 7/10.

Roald Dahl knew as much as anyone that kids love things a bit darker, a bit more menacing. Nick Park seems far removed from Dahl, but the truth is the dark has always been there, it's just people haven't bothered to look.

Matter Of Loaf And Death was great BECAUSE it pushed the boundaries. It would be so easy to coast and take Sony's Yankee dollar. But Nick Park isn't like that.

I admire him because this is his creation and he always seems to come up with something surprise him. The clever film references, the delightful puns (Citizen Canine!) all well handled.

And seriously, didn't anyone else find Fluffie's relationship with Gromit sweet? Or perhaps I'm getting sentimental in my old age.

Anyhoo, I loved it.

Under rated, I feel, by a sizable amount. Yes it was a bit different to the more innocently silly Wrong Trousers but it was both a post-Wererabbit feature and a clear spoof of Murder mysteries. I loved the cartoony menace rumbling away as the plot thickens. Brilliant references, a great (cartoon) murder thriller atmosphere and the usual fantastic animations and characters. I found it the most gripping and compelling of all W&Gs. There's just enough silliness and action in it for W&G purists while IMO giving a much better, more involving story and a far slicker narrative. I thought it was pretty near to perfection and am surprised so many seem not to be as impressed.

It is a bit different, definitely darker than the early ones but this came after the darkish Wererabbit movie, so this progression is to be expected. Yes it's not as charming and may be on the dark side for young kids, but you have the early ones for eccentric charm. This is post-Wererabbit and is an excellent little murder thriller.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Wallace and Gromit have decided to set up their own baking business. One day, Wallace nearly has a traffic accident with the woman who used to be the 'bake-o-lite' girl. They warm to each other and romance starts to blossom-but Gromit, wary as ever (what with past experience!) suspects she's trouble, and what with the spate of serial killings involving local bakers that's been going on lately, maybe he's onto something.

After the success of 2005's film version The Curse of the Were Rabbit, Nick Park's plasticine heroes have become popular again and got enough publicity for a timely new episode last Christmas, that for one reason or another I didn't get to see all the way through. But now I have, and while the technical animation never ceases to impress me, it's now becoming quite clear that in my mind, Park'll never make as great an episode as The Wrong Trousers.

The serial killing theme of this new story might have been a bit too dark and adult to feature in a family film, but one of the trademarks of the franchise, the cheesy puns, are in abundance, from vinyl records Gromit owns by artists like Doggy Osmond and McFlea (as well as The Hound of Music!), to other clever (but not very subtle!) touches like advertisements for flights by Cheesy Jet. The stories in most of the short films revolve around Wallace warming to someone (or something) he's just met and Gromit suspecting (and being proved right!) that they're up to no good, and this is no exception but most of it is carried off with such technical expertise it's a minor quibble.

There's nothing really wrong here, it's just that nothing has (and I doubt ever will) live up to the standard of The Wrong Trousers for me. ***

I do agree with the other commentators that it isn't quite as good as Wrong Trousers or Close Shave, but there is still plenty to enjoy here. I can see completely why it was the most watched Christmas programme on British Television. Technically, it is a wonder. Even after thirteen years, the claymation is so good. And there are plenty of visual jokes to delight even the fussiest adult or child, like Puppy Love by Doggy Osmond. I just have to mention the ending, it was hilarious, with Wallace shouting "Gromit I've got a bomb in my pants". It was so silly I couldn't help laughing, so much so my sides were really sore. Sally Lindsey was impressive as Piella Bakewell, and Peter Sallis still proves that at 87 he could still do a competent job as ever as Wallace. Gromit still delights with his priceless facial expressions, and the little dog was enough to make you go "awww!" The storyline was quite dark in tone, even more so than the predecessors, but the constant visual jokes kept my family entertained. If I had one quibble, it would be that the pace of the episode was a bit too fast, but overall this was hugely enjoyable. 9/10 Bethany Cox.