A rare example of a sequel made 25 years after the original that I’ll gladly say, “Yes, please” to, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget may not do anything new, but it sure is fun anyway.
After the chickens successfully escaped Mrs. Tweedy’s deadly farm, they’ve discovered tranquility on an isolated island. But Ginger and Rocky (now voiced by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi) hatch a chick–Molly (Bella Ramsey)–whose curiosity sends the crew back into danger. And by danger, I mean an innovative chicken processing plant.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Aardman-produced film; my tastes have certainly changed since the original Chicken Run debuted way back in the year 2000. Dawn of the Nugget is enjoyable, entertaining, and lighthearted, though I didn’t find it as funny or silly as I remember the original being. Whether that memory is real or imagined I cannot say, but what I can say is that even if this new Chicken Run can’t quite fill the large bird shoes of its predecessor, it still plucks many of the same feathers.
Consistently amusing and fast paced, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a worthy sequel. And if you’re wondering, my five-year-old, experiencing her first Aardman film, was captivated throughout.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.