Ìý User Rating 
Of the three Wallace and Gromit films made by fast-rising British animation studio Aardman, "The Wrong Trousers" is the most accomplished. It developed the characters and considerable talent showcased in "A Grand Day Out" and was merely reworked in their equally enjoyable third outing, "A Close Shave".
Wallace and Gromit, an inventor and his highly intelligent dog, live together in a cosy English idyll aided by various handy gadgets straight out of the cartoons of Heath Robinson. Then they take in a devious penguin lodger who drives Gromit from his room, and ultimately out of the house. The evil little bird also happens to be a master criminal and he soon exploits Wallace's peculiar genius to steal a diamond from the local museum.
Nick Park creates a kind of dynamic previously confined to two-dimensional animation and with tightly structured narrative pays homage to a broad cinematic heritage. The penguin's efforts to drive a sleeping Wallace through the museum in a pair of remote-controlled trousers and the finale in which they hurtle around the house on a model train are set pieces as thrilling as any in live action blockbusters.
Gromit is the most expressive cartoon dog since Snoopy, and without uttering a word he carries the story through its all too brief 30 minutes. Attention to detail makes it a rewarding film to watch and re-watch, with amusing headlines and daft wallpaper. The film earned itself an Oscar and its studio a reputation big enough to make the feature length claymation movie, "Chicken Run". It's the kind of children's fare adults want to be a part of.
"The Wrong Trousers" is on 91Èȱ¬1 at 6.25pm, Saturday 14th April 2001.
