Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out - A Movie Review

Let’s go to the moon to get some cheese!

A Grand Day Out is the first Wallace and Gromit adaptation released in 1989. Out of cheese, the pair learn that the moon is made of cheese. Inventing a rocket, Wallace and Gromit blast off to the moon.

Wallace and Gromit was the definition of my childhood. It opened the door to clay animation. As the first short, A Grand Day Out is the best definition of adventure and imagination.

Nick Park based Wallace on his father. Wallace is a quirky inventor. He’s created zany inventions over time. Wallace’s passion is a great example, most importantly to child audiences. When you find your passion, stick with it. Create anything that you want.

The late Peter Sallis will never be forgotten as the voice of Wallace. He had fun with the character. I always loved when Wallace delivers his trademark ‘Cheese’ line.

Originally, Gromit was supposed to be voiced until Park decided to leave him voiceless. He was also supposed to be a cat in first drafts. Gromit’s expressive countenance is the best part of his character. You can tell how Gromit is feeling is every second. This series is the best example of non-verbal speaking.

The signature scene of the film is when the duo builds the rocket. We immediately get the sense of Wallace and Gromit’s characters in this scene, like their dynamic. Remember, in order for clay animated films to work, animators develop at least 3 seconds of footage per day.

Not the only character in the short, the Cooker also makes a notable appearance. As a kid, I always called it the robot. Making sure everything is in order on the moon, it has a desire to go skiing. Who wouldn’t?

A Grand Day Out spent six years in the making. Park put his sweat, time, and energy into creating the clay animated characters, sets, movements, and countless other tasks. For some of it, Park was working on it by himself until asking Dreamworks for help. His hard work in his debut direction is very impressive.

There are noticeable bumps in the animation. The way Wallace walks down the stairs is jumpy in its pacing. But you have to remember that this short was a test. A successful test.

The set of the moon is cool, creating a different world. Many ideas were scrapped from the short. Another trait that I admire about Park is his idea process. He has conquered several storylines over time. Comedy is nailed. When I first watched this short as a kid, I burst out laughing when Wallace forgets to bring the crackers.

A hand goes out to Julian Knott for his commendable theme music. He chose a specific theme for each character. It’s a catchy style. Believe me, I danced around whenever I heard the theme music.

Wallace’s love for Wensleydale cheese helped boost sales to all cheese factories. If it wasn’t for this short, the Wensleydale Cheese Factory would have gone bankrupt!

The best scene that my dad and I love to reference is when the cooker is skiing on the moon and doing flips. This is what Wallace and Gromit is all about. It encourages imagination, to create, and express your passion. I have always been a fan of this series, dancing around like a wild animal to the theme music.

I am looking forward to seeing Park’s newest installment of Wallace and Gromit when it’s released to Netflix in 2024. For anyone who has not seen Wallace and Gromit, I recommend that you watch all the shorts and the film.