With it getting colder, maybe it’s time to go somewhere warmer…or at least watch some birds do that on the big screen.
This is the newest film from Illumination, the creators of Despicable Me. So they decided to precede the movie with a short about Vector the villain from Despicable Me. It shows him after the end of Despicable Me where he is left on the moon and we see what he tries to do to get back to earth. I thought it was…fine. It was very much a slapstick Wile E. Coyote-esque short aimed toward kids. Which is fine. Although, I feel like the main movie had a lot more to offer.
I really enjoyed the film. We follow this family of mallards as they go on their first migration. Usually, they just stay at the same pond year-round. Due to an encounter with some other ducks, they learn about Jamaica, and what other wonders the world has to offer. So, they decide to make the migration down there. Their journey is filled with many challenges and shenanigans, but it’s always more about the journey than the destination.
Illumination knows how to do animation and so the movie looks really good. The ducks are very expressive and the environments look really beautiful as the birds fly over them.
Sometimes with illumination, I always worry about the writing. Some of their movies are really good but sometimes they seem like they are almost oriented towards too young of an audience, I found this one balanced it very well. There were jokes that got me, along with other parents in the theatre, laughing. The kids were having a good time as well. Which in my book means the movie succeded as a family film.
I have seen some criticism that this movie was fairly by the books as far as road trip movies go. Although, that’s not necessarily a problem.
Overall I would recommend giving this a watch. It’s a great family film with something for everyone to enjoy! Check out the trailer if you want to see more below.
-Jared Gomes
