Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

One of the irresistible charms of Wallace And Gromit for many fans is not just that they are quintessentially British but that they are unmistakably northern. In a cinematic landscape dominated by Hollywood and bigger UK cities, it's a champion idea, those from the right neck of the woods might say. It's not just that Preston-born Nick Park (here directing with Merlin Crossingham and writing with Mark Burton) leans into it but that he does so with pride, secure in the knowledge that there are so many jokes of different sorts being made that if some of the references go over the heads of some audiences it will scarcely matter in the bigger scheme of things.

And scheming, of course, is what Wallace And Gromit films rest on, even if the hapless inventor (now voiced by Ben Whitehead since the death of much loved original vocalist Peter Sallis) isn't very good at it. His faithful dog Gromit, of course, is less than impressed. It's not just the heavy handed pat-o-matic that's a problem, he also has grave doubts about Wallace's latest scheme to make money - a smart gnome. While the pun has the groan factor usually associated with Christmas crackers, like most of Park's best ideas it will also strike a chord with those who find the fight with technological helpmates like Alexa can be as frustrating as it is rewarding.

The chap in question is Norbert (voiced with glee by Reece Shearsmith), a robotic helpmate who like this to be "neat and tidy" - whether the phrase is intended to or not (and my hunch is that it is), it made me think of the jobsworths in the Mr Messy Mister Man book. That pretty much spells death for Gromit's flowers. But the Gnome Improvement business is about to take a turn for the sinister thanks to criminal mastermind Feathers McGraw - who fans will remember for his diamond thievery in The Wrong Trousers. Currently doing - yes, you've guessed it - bird in a jail that may come as a surprise, Feathers has revenge in mind and the technical skills to spin the gnome's internal settings to "evil" so that soon an army of Norberts are wreaking havoc.

Part of the secret of Park's success is that the jokes come thick and fast but the stories themselves are easy to follow, so that all the family can keep up. Among the enjoyable 'local' jokes, is a news presenter named Anton Deck and a whole flurry of gags focusing on the border between Yorkshire and Lancashire - my personal favourite are twin signs, one reading “Welcome to Yorkshire” and the other declaring “No parkin”.

McGraw is a terrific villain and a testament to the characterisation Ardman put into each gesture. His every move, with his blinking eyes his main mode of expression, has the edge of something slightly sinister, in contrast to the equally silent Gromit, whose glances generally suggest frustration and resignation with his owner in equal measure. Additional characters include a couple of local coppers (voiced by Peter Kay and Lauren Patel). This isn’t having such a run in cinemas as it’ll be playing on BBC1 this Christmas Day, but there’s something fitting about welcoming Wallace and Gromit into the warmth of your family home on one of the cosiest days of the year. You might say, they suit the occasion to a tea.