The Wrong Trousers (1993)

ANIMATED ADVENTURE: (1993, NR.) Wallace, a slightly dim inventor, lives with his very intelligent dog, Gromit. Wallace adapts a piece of a space suit into mechanical legs to take Gromit out for walks. Short on money, Wallace decides to rent out a room. A strange Penguin rents the room, but moves into Gromit’s room displacing Gromit to the doghouse. In frustration, Gromit leaves home. Meanwhile, the Penguin has reprogrammed the mechanical trousers, with Wallace inside them, to perform robberies. He steals a giant diamond from the museum. After a chase around the house on toy trains, the Penguin is captured and Wallace and Gromit are reunited.

VIOLENCE/SCARINESS: A fantastic jewel robbery and a chase scene are more exciting than scary. Some moderate slapstick.

CRIMES: Robbery (P).

MORALS, ISSUES & VALUES: Wallace and Gromit care for each other deeply despite their differences. Wallace treats Gromit as a servant. The film demonstrates the dangers in technology misused and our naive trust in things mechanical.

SEXUALITY & GENDER ISSUES: None.

SUBSTANCES: None.

COMMENTS: Enjoyable and delightful in every way. A masterpiece of clay animation. A must-see film.

STARRING: The voice of Peter Sallis.

ALTERNATES: Other short masterpieces of clay animation by Academy Award winning Nick Parks are “A Close Shave” and “A Grand Day Out.” He is also the director of “Chicken Run.”