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What follows is full of the British wit and kinetic action-movie thrills that have made Nick Park's cartoons so popular. Puns abound, from the "dogfight" between two dogs on a moving plane to the titles of books and newspaper articles, and fans of Watership Down—another movie about rabbits—will appreciate the quick reference to that film.

However, some parents may also be a bit chagrined to find that this film is also leavened with a fair dose of suggestive humor and innuendo that was virtually unknown in the earlier short films. True, the name Wendolene Ramsbottom—Wallace's almost-girlfriend in A Close Shave—was somewhat chuckle-worthy, but their romance was essentially a case of innocent puppy love, amplified by sappy music. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is somewhat bawdier. Instead of innocent attraction, there is lustful temptation, though it is usually expressed in the form of succulent vegetables. Wallace is also quick to pucker up whenever he thinks Lady Tottington wants a kiss, though that can be written off to his daffiness. Some puns may fly over the heads of American audiences, such as when Lady Tottington says, "Just call me Tottie," a slang term for a sexually attractive person. Other gags are more obvious, such as when women hold two round vegetables before their bosoms, or when a naked man wears a cardboard box that bears the label: "May contain nuts."

Some Christian moviegoers may also object to Rev. Clement Hedges (Nicholas Smith), the cowardly vicar who has his gentle side, but when faced with disappearing plants and a monster on the loose, mainly encourages fear ("By tampering with nature, forcing vegetables to swell beyond their natural size, we have brought judgment on ourselves!") and hate ("Drive out the monstrosity!"). That's his public face; privately he reads Nun Pro Wrestling, and he keeps a palmistry hand statue on his desk. As a caricature of the English clergy, this cleric may be fair game, but between him and the stern Christopher Lee character in Corpse Bride, church types haven't had it easy in recent cartoons.

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is still a lot of fun. But in moving from innocent little lambs to feisty, naughty bunnies, the Wallace & Gromit crew have tapped into a different sort of humor that is not as "safe" as the family-friendly short films (including 1989's A Grand Day Out and 1992's The Wrong Trousers) that introduced these characters. Ah well, the franchise is now in its teens, so it may as well be full of hormones. How the time flies.

Talk About It

1. The vicar says the people may have brought judgment down on themselves by tampering with nature. In a way, he is wrong—their experiments with vegetables are not to blame—but is there a kernel of truth in what he says? Is Wallace "tampering with nature" through his inventions? Is he reaping what he has sown, in that regard?
   
   
2. What do you make of all the religious imagery in this film, like the scene in which a halo appears behind Lady Tottington and devil's horns that appear behind Lord Quartermaine? What about the rabbit who thinks he's "moving to the light" of the afterlife? Does this signify anything? Is it a welcome addition to the series? How do these things relate to the film's portrayal of the vicar? Does he contribute anything positive to the story?
   
   
3. The vicar says there is a beast inside all of us. What sort of beast (or beasts) live inside you? How do you deal with these beasts? What do you make of Wallace's attempt to brainwash the rabbits? Are there any similar ways in which we try to create "quick fixes" for our own lack of self-control?
   
   
4. How would you deal with a rabbit infestation in your garden, backyard or estate? Is Lord Quartermaine necessarily wrong to want to kill the rabbits? Is Lady Tottington necessarily right to want to make sure the rabbits live? How would you treat the rabbits if you kept them in your own home, as Wallace and Gromit do?

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