This 'curse' is hilarious!

For those of you uninitiated (okay, most of you, myself included), British animator Nick Park created the claymation duo of Wallace and Gromit back in 1989. For years, his animated shorts have existed almost completely on the other side of the Atlantic. However, Dreamworks decided to distribute Wallace and Gromit's first feature-length debut here in the States. Can an obscure stop-motion British duo make it? By the reaction this film received in the theater, the answer is a resounding "yes."\nFirst, an introduction: good-natured inventor Wallace (voice of Peter Sallis) and his trusty silent partner/dog Gromit are making a small fortune helping out their small town with their humane pest control business. Looking for a permanent way to stop these bunnies from chomping up prized vegetables, Wallace constructs a machine in order to change their rabbit-y nature. Unfortunately, the machine malfunctions and instead lets loose a hopping mad monstrosity on the town. Wallace and Gromit have to stop the monster before it ruins Lady Tottington's (voice of Helena Bonham Carter) annual vegetable contest. If they don't stop it, "Totty's" money-grubbing fiancé and trigger-happy hunter Victor will (voiced by Ralph Fiennes).\nFor all its cute characters and simple story, "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is a horror movie, albeit one for children. Even though the victims are only vegetables, Park and company don't hold back on the suspense. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice references to everything from "An American Werewolf in London" to "King Kong." Of course, the kids won't, but that's half the fun. Parents should be entertained just as much as the kids will be. \nThe only problem I have with the film is that it takes too long to get going. It's 84 minutes long, and, for most of that time, it's up to a "Looney Tunes" level of energy. However, the first act doesn't get up to speed until the Were-Rabbit is unleashed upon the city. Once that maniacal bunny is freed, it's almost non-stop humor.\nUnlike other "kid" films, "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is enjoyable for people who have stopped watching cartoons. It never comes across as forcing itself into a particular age-bracket. Sure, the film's primary target audience is children, but it doesn't dumb itself down. And it doesn't try to appeal to adults by cramming in every single pop-culture joke imaginable in order to seem "hip" (Shrek, I'm looking at you!). It's funny without being overbearing and it's clever without hitting you over the face with it. And it's probably the best monster rabbit movie around.