Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

The critic calls it a brilliant, uproarious sequel that moves the story on with thrilling infiltration missions and mind-control schemes, drawing on the golden age of British comics and spy capers.

A rollicking animated followup that's even more fun than the original, using a Mission: Impossible template with strong teamwork and gadgets. The emotional hook is stronger in the finale grudge match with Mrs. Tweedy.

The film delivers a delightful return to Aardman’s stop-motion style with an inventive Mission: Impossible-style plot. The critic praises the seamless animation, cheeky humor and detailed craftsmanship.

The sequel largely repeats the beats and characters of the original film. The critic highlights the expressive stop-motion chickens as the source of its comic appeal.

Might not fully capture the magic of the original but is still fun, with visual comedy and daffy engineering as highlights. It is baggier, not as funny, and drags in parts but achieves its goal of entertaining kids and adults.

The film mostly fails to make a convincing case for Aardman’s old-school artisanal approach, with bland design and a flat look. It plods along as a functional joke vehicle fueled mostly by fond memories of the original.

The critic finds the sequel disappointingly undercooked and lacking fresh ideas compared to the original, though not entirely bad. The synthetic color palette and lack of new jokes are singled out for complaint.

It is a gorgeously realised, resolutely British little adventure that retains Aardman's artisanal craft while adding bolder scope and Mission: Impossible-style set-pieces, delivering silly, witty family fun.

Aardman’s long-awaited sequel looks set to become a family favourite by sticking with the successful formula and trading on family-friendly humour. It is a familiar, well-executed coming-of-age narrative with impressive stop-motion craft.

The long-awaited sequel is at its best when it lets Aardman’s handcrafted charm shine through sprightly action, silly puns and visual gags. Connoisseurs may crave a more intricate story, but most family audiences will be sated.

The critic finds it a worthy but not especially meaty sequel, better suited to little kids and grandparents than savvier viewers. It sticks closely to the Aardman look with situational humor but lacks cackle-worthy one-liners and has a predictable last act.

The sequel lacks the original's spark and belly laughs, feeling more like genial chuckling and film-by-committee, though it remains decent festive entertainment with a lively voice cast and British charm.

The review notes the film is technically impressive and witty in places but ultimately falls short of recapturing the original's magic after the long wait. Voice recasts and narrative choices are highlighted.

This charming, weird and enjoyable sequel is another feather in Aardman's cap, rallying the flock against fast food in a filmic riff-filled adventure that shines once it leaves the island sanctuary.

The critic finds the sequel a fun, warm Aardman family film with inventive set pieces and cosy charm that still delivers essential holiday viewing. They note it has too much Netflix polish and lacks some of the original's spark.

The critic calls it a worthy, funny and brilliantly crafted follow-up that captures quintessential Aardman spirit and scales up the action effectively. They single out the controversial voice cast changes as the main element that prevents it from being perfect.

The review finds it an enjoyable but slightly reheated sequel, praising the stop-motion animation and action sequences while noting the script feels less clever and the setup familiar.

The critic praises the heist premise and Aardman's animation and humor, but notes it lacks the original's narrative tightness and emotional depth. It honors the legacy well as a fun, imaginative sequel.

The critic finds the sequel disappointing with a dull, unoriginal plot and less charming characters than the original, though the Aardman animation remains spectacular.

The critic finds the sequel refreshing and cleverly modern family entertainment that works to a formula without feeling committee-written. They single out the playful Mission: Impossible vibe bolstered by the score.

The critic finds it an uninspired sequel that's disappointing and serviceable but lacking wit and originality. They single out the borrowed ideas and uninspired giggles.