Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1989) User Reviews

Wensleydale?

[ProperCharlie · 8/10 · 22 February 2002]

In this Wallace and Gromit short, the clay twosome voyage to the moon in order to replenish their cheese supplies. They also learn that traffic wardens have dreams too. This is stylish and funny and will leave you wanting to see more.

To my mind, this is the best W&G outing. Let me explain. I agree that the characters are not as developed as they were in 'The Wrong Trousers' or 'A Close Shave' and also the plot is weaker. Some of the models are not as refined as they came to be (this is after all the first W&G film).

What it has that the other W&G offerings lack is that feeling of sadness and mood that the 'The Wrong Trousers' and 'A Close Shave' replace with story telling. This is closer to Tom and Jerry than it is to Chicken Run. It has laughs sure, but the feeling I have when the credits role is of one of wistfulness and a slight melancholy. Not bad for 20 minutes of plasticine animation!

See this Wallace and Gromit, then move onto the others asap.

What a cracking start to a career

[ian_harris · 8/10 · 24 October 2005]

Wallace and Gromit are a phenomenon. How many stop motion animation films win Oscars, top the US and UK box office charts etc. But all that came later.

A Grand Day Out was the first Wallace and Gromit film. Low budget. More or less a graduation piece. Of course the animation is less sophisticated than in the later films. Of course the plot is a little shallow. The entire story is designed to minimise the need for sophisticated animation and to maximise the excuse for shortcomings (perhaps dogs and people would move a bit like that on a cheese moon).

Yet it is extraordinary to see how much of the Aardman genius is already there in this short film. Hilarious and clever references to other films. Mice in shades for take off. The rocket handbrake gag. Coin-operated machine gags (brilliantly recycled in Were-Rabbit BTW). And a machine (is it an Aga?) that daydreams about skiing when it sees Wallace's holiday magazines.

Of course TWT, ACS and Were-Rabbit are better movies, but this film is so worth seeing as a sign of early genius and indeed in its own right as a crude but wonderful animated film.

Oh my, this is so funny!

[TheOtherFool · 8/10 · 21 June 2004]

Nick Park has created such funny characters with Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit. This time, they run out of cheese and decide to get it on the moon, as 'everybody knows it's made of cheese'.

They make their own spaceship and finally make it to the moon, where the cheese doesn't really taste like anything and they have an encounter with a local robot, whose secret dream is it to ski (as we see in a lovely dream sequence with the W&G theme playing on the background, loved that!).

This short picture is so funny, I can recommend it to anyone. Maybe not as much though as the even more brilliant 'The Wrong Trousers'... oh heck, what am I talking, watch all the W&G right now! You'll be glad you did.

8/10.

Grand

[Altaira · 21 July 1999]

Although A Grand Day Out is arguably the weakest of the three existing Wallace and Gromit films, it's still very funny, and very entertaining. This was my first W and G experience. I heard the uncontrolled sounds of hysterical laughter from my family in the next room as a refrigerator on the moon dreamt of skiing down slopes (don't ask, watch.) Everyone, from ages 3-103 will be at least slightly amused by any W and G skit. I also recommend A Close Shave and The Wrong Trousers, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Hilarious...

[Polaris_DiB · 8/10 · 28 October 2005]

"Gromit, we've forgotten the crackers!" Wallace and Gromit are very funny, very cute little claymation characters that go on adventures so that everybody can have a good time. In this short, they go to the moon, because everyone knows it's made out of cheese, and cheese is what they want. When they get there, it's a bit different than they expected, but that doesn't stop them from exploring around and running into a little mischief with a robot thing that happens to be left there (and take Earthling money, too...).

It's quite a charming little duo, this Wallace and Gromit. Wallace is the inventor with a smile on his face and the plans to do whatever he fancies, while Gromit is his concerned protector, chasing after him to make sure his master is okay. The claymation is of the finest sort, with their expressions perfect and a lot of depth to their eyes.

Just remember: don't forget the crackers.

--PolarisDiB

Great short with interesting concepts

[llltdesq · 9/10 · 13 December 2001]

This short was nominated for the Academy Award. It introduces us to Wallace and Gromit. Interestingly, the stars are less appealing than one of the supporting characters: the little whatever-it-is they run into on their jaunt to the moon for cheese. This little critter apparently wants to be Jean-Claude Killy when it grows up. The best parts of a very fine short are with this odd little entity, whatever it happens to be. Fine beginning to a great series that's gotten better as it goes along. Recommended to those few souls who haven't seen it yet.

Gromit in space

[studioAT · 6/10 · 30 October 2016]

1989?! It's so odd to think that this short film has been part of British culture, and seemingly on the telly every Christmas, Easter and Bank Holiday since 1989.

The reason for it's success? Because it's clear what a labour of love it was for Nick Park going through the painstaking process of stop motion animation. It's also a good story, that appeals to both adults and children.

Is it the best of the 'Wallace and Gromit' films? Probably not. But it has stood the test of time, and there's lots of flashy big budget animated films that won't do that.

I think people will still watch this film for many years to come.

You've forgotten the crackers, Gromit! (spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 10/10 · 4 January 2005]

Wallace and Gromit claymation shorts are always based on inventive ideas and that's where most of the appeal comes from. Look at 'The Wrong Trousers,' for example, where Wallace and Gromit are held hostage by a fugitive sheep. Here, Wallace and Gromit are on holiday, so they travel to the moon, because they were all out of cheese. And, as you know, the moon is made of cheese. So, the pair build a spaceship and prepare for travel. When they get there, they're entertained by a strange, lonely little robot man, whom they share a space adventure with. Like all Wallace and Gromit shorts, Wallace is usually preoccupied and oblivious to the trouble at hand (he's searching for some delicious cheese here), while Gromit has to protect him and save the day (Wallace usually notices when it's too late).

If you have seen any of the other Wallace and Gromit shorts and enjoyed them, you're sure to enjoy this creative little adventure as well. It's always a hilarious trip.

The birth of a legend

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 12 September 2013]

Say cheese. 13 years after Will Vinton invented it, claymation is back. This short film was a milestone in animation history. The fact that Park lost the Best Animated Feature Oscar to himself that year does it no harm. He won with his three follow-up Wallace and Gromit films then, the last being a full feature.

I quite like this short film, not as much as The Wrong Trousers, but more than A Close Shave. Park is on such a creative high that year that he brings us Wallace & Gromit, almost in their ultimate shape, with a great catchy tune and also already a prospect of things to come in the famous Aardman sheep on the picture at the wall of the rocket. What do you do when you realize that you've run out of cheese for your crackers. That's right. Go get some and combine with your annual holiday travel by picking the moon as the destination. After all, it's made all of cheese. Gromit's look to the camera says it all. But how did they get the cows up there? Anyway, watching this short film I had to think of French movie pioneer Georges Méliès' Trip to the Moon which shows quite a few parallels: the planning, the rocket building and finally the flight from the inhabitants. This can't be a coincidence.

After they reach the moon and we get to see a short gravity joke, they run into a cleaning robot, who's quickly fed up with tidying up after the mess Wallace leaves behind after testing different moon cheese culinary meals from several corners of the moon. He is rewarded in the end for his efforts and his dream finally comes true. A must-see for animation lovers.

The weakest of the Wallace and Gromit episodes is still well worth watching!

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 6 May 2009]

Nick Park has delighted many with his unique creations. Wallace and Gromit is the best of the lot, though Chicken Run is great too. Although this is the weakest offering from them(some of the clay was a bit runny), it is still hilarious. Wallace is superlatively voiced by Peter Sallis, and it is pretty much a one-man show. I loved Gromit, and although he never speaks, his facial expressions are priceless. I loved the idea of Wallace thinking the moon was made of cheese, and the plot never ran out of steam. The scenes on the moon, with the yellow box on wheels, were well done too. in conclusion, although this is the weakest short in terms of quality, the one that started it all is well worth watching. 9/10 Bethany Cox.

A Grand Day Out for Wallace and Gromit

[benjamin-ryan · 7/10 · 20 September 2005]

Wallace and Gromit:a Grand Day Out introduces us to the lovable duo who goes on to other great films like The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave and the highly anticipated The Cures Of The Were-Rabbit, well enough about this and on to the film.

I first saw them in The Wrong Trousers and from then on I loved them and then saw A Close Shave which made me like then even more so I really want to see A Grand Day Out. I finally saw it last night and was disappointed compare to the other two films. It was probably because of the other two had better clay graphics but that just shows Wallace and Gromit have evolved which is good too. The story wasn't really a story and wasn't good compared to the other two, the story was about Wallace was about to have his afternoon tea (cheese and crackers) were he finally sees there is no cheese in the house he decides to go to another place that has cheese....The Moon! Overall I thought A Grand Day Out had a few problems but other then that it was good!

"It's like no cheese I've ever tasted..."

[ackstasis · 8/10 · 1 September 2007]

There is a lot of be admired about the Wallace and Gromit short films. The intricate craftsmanship is always excellent, and you can only imagine how long it must have taken to film even a second of the stop-motion animation. The humour is gentle and family-friendly, and also very British… if that can serve as an adequate description. In this, the first film out of three directed by Nick Park – not including the Oscar-winning feature length film of 2005 – 'A Grand Day Out' is a genuinely entertaining 23 minutes of imagination and creativity, completed over six years by Park, who produced the film as part of his graduation project from the National Film and Television School.

I have heard some remark that the animation in this film is poor, and yet I find myself wondering how they came to this conclusion. Of course, the work may not be as refined as the later additions to the series, given that Park was less experienced and was undoubtedly working on a smaller budget, but the quality is still never anything less than excellent. The story begins on a rather dull banking holiday, and the good-natured Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) is unsuccessfully trying to decide where he and his canine companion Gromit are to spend their day off. Suddenly, Wallace makes a horrifying discovery: their house is completely devoid of dairy products! And so – as anybody might do in such a situation – the pair endeavour to travel to the Moon, which everybody knows is comprised of cheese.

Wallace, being an enthusiastic inventor, casually tosses together a space rocket, and pretty soon they are ready for their big journey. In probably the film's most memorable sequence, Wallace realises, just as the launch countdown is beginning, that they forgot to bring the crackers. Imagine going to the Moon without crackers! However, some quick-thinking and agility from Wallace eventually saves the day, and the pair pass their otherwise uneventful Moon-ward journey by reading the newspaper and building delicate playing card pyramids. Their picnic on the lunar surface offers a hint of imaginative absurdity, with the main storyline concerning a coin-operated gas oven who lives on the Moon, writes out parking tickets and dreams of skiing.

All this makes for a quirky, clever and humorous short film that literally anybody can enjoy. Interestingly, 'A Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit' was nominated for Best Animated Short at the 1991 Academy Awards, but failed to take the statue. I don't imagine, however, that Nick Park would have despaired; he lost out to a film called 'Creature Comforts'... directed by Nick Park!

Wallace and gromit not enough...

[algkhnzybk-96809 · 6/10 · 30 March 2019]

Unfortunately not enough... maybe the reason is that the film is short...

not the best Wallace and Gromit...

[rebeljenn · 5/10 · 22 October 2005]

Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out was the first Wallace and Gromit short. Although enjoyable, this is my least personal favourite of the Wallace and Gromit shorts. I think this is down to an experimentation with the characters and a finding of their place.

The plot itself is very silly, and it follows the man (an absent-minded inventor) and his dog (who happens to be smarter than the man himself) on a trip to the moon in search of cheese. The plot is a little slow when compared to the other shorts, but it does maintain a level of interest. (I just think that the more recent shorts have surpassed this one in every way).

If you've never seen the shorts, then I wouldn't watch this one first. The other two are much more enjoyable. I would watch this one after you've seen the others - granted that you did enjoy the others.

Who spotted?

[drummer-3 · 10/10 · 12 October 2000]

OK I agree. This is the weakest of the trio, but still worth some good laughs. How many off you spotted the "rosebud" sleigh in the sequence where Wallace first enters the cellar? By the way, it isn't a refrigerator but a gas stove.

Great Short Film, Very Well Done

[LebowskiT1000 · 8/10 · 22 August 2002]

Wallace And Gromit are excellent! The film is great, it's got some excellent comedy in the film. The story is a quite odd one, but nonetheless it's great. You can't take a short film like this seriously, it's all in good fun.

I think Nick Park and his crew did an excellent job with this film. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone and everyone, besides, it's only 20 minutes or so. After you watch this film, be sure to check out the other Wallace and Gromit films. If you really like this film and the others, be sure to check out "Chicken Run". Hope you enjoy the film, thanks for reading,

-Chris

A good start for Wallace and Gromitt

[filipemanuelneto · 7/10 · 21 October 2018]

This is an animation short of the most interesting and funny I have ever seen. Wallace is a creative inventor who, along with his dog, Gromitt, have a passion for cheese, who particularly likes to eat on crackers, accompanying his tea. Therefore, both decide to travel to the Moon in order to taste the lunar cheeses.

This was the first film of this duo, of the several films that would follow, in an ascending path of popularity. Its also the weaker film of Wallace and Gromitt. The script is more fragile, more geared towards pure childish entertainment than to something more refined. It was, however, an excellent start. Animations, in the best stop-motion style, are very good and credible. The songs are equally good.

Very funny

[rbverhoef · 9/10 · 22 January 2004]

Together with 'Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave' and 'Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers' this is one of the funniest things I have seen. The clay animation looks great, the stories are very ingenious and the jokes are great. If you get a chance to see this, please do it. You will have a great time.

I have to say that both 'A Close Shave' and 'The Wrong Trousers' are better than this one, but you will still have a great time watching this one.

One for the album.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 28 February 2021]

Britain's favourite cheese-obsessed, self-proclaimed inventor and his expressive pooch get off to a great start with this classic short film animated almost entirely by one person. Nick Park started the film as a university project and later finished it while working at Aardman on the similarly fantastic 'Creature Comforts (1989)'. Wallace and Gromit run out of cheese, so - like anyone in their situation would - they decide to build a rocket and take a trip to the moon because everyone knows the moon is made of cheese. In terms of the overall series, this narrative is probably the most outlandish as it doesn't really extend itself from a familiar reality (after all, the moon isn't cheese in our world). That's not really an issue, though, because the plot never takes itself too seriously. It's built almost entirely on good old-fashioned British humour and it works remarkably well. The flick's animation is a little rough around the edges when compared to its follow-ups, but it's still tactile and satisfying. Plus, it serves to bring to life a witty script centred on two cracking characters. Although it's probably the weakest of the 'Wallace and Gromit' bunch, 'A Grand Day Out (1989)' is still a great claymation adventure with plenty of laughs, sight-gags and edge-of-your-seat sequences. 7/10

hilarious

[dancegirl9837 · 10/10 · 20 February 2006]

This movie was great. I have been watching Wallace and gromit ever since i was little and i have always loved it. It is very cute. Also, very funny. It is amazing how they make the movie. It is one of my favorite movies and everyone should watch it. It is not only for little kids, but for adults to. This movie is interesting. It makes you feel very good. I loved this movie and everyone else will. Gromit may not talk, but it is amazing because you always know what he is thinking. It is mostly because of his eyebrow. He uses his eyebrow to show his emotions. Wallace and Gromit seem to be best friends and they always will be.

Grand start for Wallace and Gromit

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 27 November 2014]

Wallace wonders what to do for the bank holiday. He finds that he's run out of cheese and decides to go on a cheese vacation. He and his dog Gromit build a rocket and travel to the moon. While sampling the moon cheese, they encounter a robot set up as a vending machine. The robot gets fascinated from Wallace's travel magazine about skiing.

Nick Park has created one of the funnier claymation characters in this 23 minute short. They are fun together. Wallace is great as the clueless inventor and Gromit is the smarter of the two. They are just fun together like an old married couple. The claymation also gives a charm to the animation. It's a great start for these characters.

Absolutely smashing!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 11 February 2008]

This is the first Wallace and Gromit film and while not quite as polished as later ones (hence the 9 and not a score of 10), it was a magnificent film. In light of its fantastic graphics and lovely story, it was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film--which it lost, oddly enough, to another film from the same studio! CREATURE COMFORTS is a much simpler film--shorter and with a single gimmick (which you either loved or hated--I hated it) and I have no idea why the Wallace and Gromit short lost--it was head and shoulders above this other film.

This short has to do with both introducing the characters as well as giving them something to do--in this case, taking a trip to the moon to satisfy Wallace's pathological love for cheese! It's got all the expected gags and style--a lovely film really and one you MUST watch (really)!

Not nearly as good as the other two.

[Chrissie · 5/10 · 29 June 1999]

Although superior to the typical drivel written for children/families, A Grand Day Out falls short of the glory of The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. If this is your first W&G film, don't let it deter you from seeing the other two.

Excellent film, Good family fun

[jeff carol podge37 · 10/10 · 10 July 2001]

What more can one say Nick Park at his best.

The best part in the film has to be when the dog clicks his fingers when he remembers he has left the hand brake on.

But then again who else would think of going to the moon in search of cheese.