Chicken Run (2000, GBR/USA) C-84m. **½ D: Peter Lord, Nick Park. Starring the voices of Mel Gibson, Julie Swahalja, Miranda Richardson. Animated feature from the makers of Wallace & Gromit, about the chicken herd on a farm, which shudders at the prospect of being turned into chicken pie. Enter a hot-shot rooster (voiced by Mel Gibson), who promises to bring them to freedom. Well-made, with some interesting references to old P.O.W. movies like THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963), but characters and story are too conventional. After the exciting climax you'll wonder why the rest of the film wasn't as good.