‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ REVIEW: Cinema’s role in influencing on how society perceives AI
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ REVIEW: Cinema’s role in influencing on how society perceives AI
Feathers in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl | Still taken from Netflix
Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham’s stop-motion animation Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl intends to send us a strong message about the pros and cons of living in a world where we coexist with artificial intelligence (AI), but the film also holds a meaning so incredibly subtle that it is unclear whether this was intended or not.
The plot centers on Wallace (Ben Whitehead), an inventor whom Gromit is convinced has become too dependent on his own inventions after building a smart gnome that develops its own conscience. The overarching theme of this film tackles the ongoing discussion of living with AI. Just a decade ago, this would’ve been pure science fiction, but today the discussion has become more about perspective on the question: How should humans coexist with AI?
Apart from Wallace’s dependence, his complacence becomes an issue as well. His inability to acknowledge the inconveniences his smart gnome causes, or merely the fact that it is developing a mind of its own, brings attention to human obligation to still be accountable for the effects of these inventions on the lives of others.
The concerns with human dependence and complacence are communicated effectively, but its portrayal has a tendency to contribute to the stigma against the use of AI. Today, it’s a controversial topic, with many continuing to believe that it promotes laziness and the decline in human capability. The film is unable to discuss the extent at which AI should be limited to providing assistance and making lives more convenient as originally intended.
Not to mention, the timeless paranoia society has about robots taking over the world — a fear which starts with an invention developing a mind of its own, much like Wallace’s smart gnome. Even with attempts of showing how AI isn’t better than humans in everything, the argument shouldn’t have been focused on comparing humans to robots, but rather showing that it is generally in the best interest of humanity not to be dependent on AI.
What’s particularly interesting, however, is how all of this is juxtaposed with Gromit, a humanoid dog who performs human functions yet remains unable to speak, much like a normal dog. It’s intriguing to see the emotions that linger in his eyes, especially when the smart gnome starts being more productive than him and begins to take his place. All of it is communicated through non-verbal expression, so there are even instances where it’s hard to determine what he is feeling, winning over the audience because everyone seems to have a soft spot for animals that show emotion.
This is the more subtle message hidden in the film, whether intentional or not. It acknowledges how difficult it is to understand and communicate with animals, especially our dogs whom we care for so much. As the story progresses, Gromit is inconvenienced, saddened, and even harmed, and it’s devastating to know that he couldn’t say a word. Wallace, on the other hand, is an incredibly frustrating man. He has endless dialogue and inconveniences everyone around him despite not being the film’s main antagonist.
Overall, much like Wallace himself, Most Fowl was created with good intentions, but it’s unclear if it took into account the repercussions its execution might have on the audience. While the messages are there, their reception might not turn out the way the film intended.
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ is now streaming on Netflix.
