Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit is the second stop motion animated feature to be released in the last three weeks and wouldn't you know it? As is the case with The Corpse Bride, it also happens to be one of the best films of the year. Further proof that this style of animation is not a dead art form.

Nick Park's dynamic duo started out as the focus of three magical shorts (A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, and A Close Shave) and now they make the jump to the big screen in the animator's first cinematic outing since 2000's stunning (and hilarious) Chicken Run.

In this clever, breathtaking stop motion thriller, inventor Wallace and his silent but super smart canine pal Gromit (who've formed a pest control business called Anti Pesto), set out to find the culprit who's been tearing through their neighbors' vegetable gardens. And with the upcoming giant vegetable growing contest, they must act fast. Their pursuit leads them to a pack of bunny rabbits who may or may not be at the root the problem.

Curse of the Were-Rabbit is quite simply a stellar achievement. While it incorporates the same style of animation used in Tim Burton's recent The Corpse Bride (stop motion - a technique that requires a tiny character movement for every frame of film), it has an entirely different look. It isn't nearly as clean and polished, but it is this specific, old school look that adds to the overall endearing quality of the film.

Peter Sallis once again provides the voice of the lovable Wallace, a sweet natured inventor with a ravenous appetite for cheese. Helena Bonham Carter (clearly a lover of stop motion as she also voices a lead in the recent The Corpse Bride) returns to the clay as the quick witted Lady Tottington, the hostess of the upcoming vegetable growing contest. Ralph Fiennes (makes a quick return to the "gardening" business) as the wickedly villainous scoundrel Victor Quartermaine, an egregious green-thumber with an agenda that includes thwarting the vandalous vermin and winning the hand of fair Lady Tottington.

Curse of the Were-Rabbit is endlessly clever, paying homage to everything from Universal's classic monster movies, to Jurassic Park, to Gremlins, but at it's heart, it's quite the original adventure (and one ripe with ripping British humor). And what's more, much of the story - most notably the scenes involving the heroic Gromit - unfold without the use of dialogue. I suppose you could call Gromit the Teller of canines - Old Teller.

Curse of the Were-Rabbit emerges as one of the funniest films of year proving that great humor doesn't always have to be R-Rated as 2005 would almost have you believe. (I mean no ill will towards Wedding Crashers and 40-Year Old Virgin - in a year of forgettable comedies, they easily rank as two of the best) but it was refreshing to be laughing out loud right next to the kids. While this is certainly a movie for the whole family, Park and crew throw in a couple of subtle gags for the adults, none more hilarious than a sequence featuring Tottington and a couple of melons. Call me juvenile, but I found it hilarious. Of course, this silly little moment is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Curse of the Were-Rabbit really works because of it's infectious comedic energy, a grand sense of humor, and it's unique visual style. It's a magical experience from beginning to end.

Preceding the film is a surprisingly high energy romp called "A Christmas Caper". In the computer animated short, those scene stealing penguins from the film "Madagascar" set out to rescue one of their own from the clutches of a crotchety old woman who plans on using their pal as a stocking stuffer for her vicious poodle. Very funny. In fact, I found this short more humorous than the feature that inspired it.