A Close Shave
Year: 1995
Rating: PG
Length: 31 minutes / 0.52 hours
I think it’s difficult for the third film in a series to live up to the success of its predecessors. When the first film feels a bit rough and the second is polished to perfection, the third has a lot to live up to. A Close Shave (1995) is definitely better than A Grand Day Out (1989) but I think its scarier elements hold it back from the perfection that is The Wrong Trousers (1993). After all, the levity of Wallace & Gromit is what makes it fun to watch.
As is always the case in these early Wallace & Gromit shorts, the technical achievement here is incredible. Aardman makes it look so easy that you don’t even realize how they pulled off stop motion flying sequences or have so many moving parts working all in tandem to make a sweater. And the reason why this is falls squarely on how engaging the plot is. The art of claymation serves to enhance the story so that you hardly even notice it’s there. This is the mark of pure artistry and the reason Aardman dominated this space for so many years.
While there are violent elements in A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers, the main characters never feel like they’re truly in danger. Leaning more into the Hitchcock-like suspense in A Close Shave was a bold decision, but I definitely have strong memories of watching this as a kid and being scared when the big reveal happens near the end. That’s not to say Wallace & Gromit has to be specifically for kids, it’s more that parents should know these moments are there before letting their kids watch it.
Another superb Wallace & Gromit short that’s a little darker than normal, I give A Close Shave 4.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
