MIGRATION

US, 2023, 93 minutes, Colour.

Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina, Carol Kane, David Mitchell, Isabella Merced, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal, Danny DeVito.

Directed by Benjamin Renner.

A family entertainment, a cheerful animation film, some comedy, some dangers…

There is a long cinema tradition of journeys, often referred to as Road Movies. However, this is a story about birds. They take to flight in their migration journey, so something of a flight movie.

We are introduced to a family of mallards who live a comfortable life near a lake, wisecracking father, devoted mother, teenage son, little daughter. They have never travelled. One day, a flock lands at their pool on their way to Jamaica, inviting the mallards to join them. Father is reluctant. Children are eager. Mother exhorts him to open his horizons. And, there is the old uncle, somewhat crotchety, certainly not eager on migration.

Of course, off they go, some exhilaration in flight, but some episodes on the way that are terrifying at first, draw on the courage of each member of the family, find a guide to help them to Jamaica – and, happy landing, the migrating family welcoming them. (And, the prospect of a sequel when it is suggested that they migrate the next year to Antarctica!).

A good voice cast including Kumail Nanjiani as the father, Elizabeth Banks as the mother. And there is enjoyment with Danny DeVito as the old uncle, Keegan-Michael Key is a scarlet feathered captive in a cage held by an aggressive New York chef, Awkwafina is a surly at first New York City pigeon, and David Mitchell is an a lead prize duck in charge of a resort training the other ducks in dance and décor, not suspecting that the whole setup is an easy market for that evil New York chef! And that leads to some tense action, defending the ducks, in the plane, heroics from the parents and from the children.

Not exactly memorable but, as we watch, entertaining.

1. Movie entertainment? Action and story for younger audiences, characters and humour for older audiences?
2. The style of animation, layout, characters, bright colours, countryside and city? The voice talent? Musical score?
3. The film as the equivalent of a road movie, birds in the air and travel? Characters, quest, episodes, dangers, arrival?
4. The Mallard’s and life of the pond, the family, the cautious father, the old uncle, the mother and her love, but wanting more, the children? The visitors on migration, the possibility of migrating, Jamaica, the father not wanting to go, the mother and urging, the challenge, the decision?
5. The adventures along the way, the flight and exhilaration, the large heron, fearful, sheltering, saving? New York City, the skyscrapers, the bewilderment, the attacking pigeons, Chump and the challenge, leadership, the restaurant and the chef, Delroy, bright scarlet, trapped in the cage, the key on the chef’s chain, the severe chef and his control of the cooks? The decision to get the key, Pam, her husband helping, chaos and the escape? The farewell to Chump?
6. Delroy, liberation, enthusiasm for Jamaica, leading them, landing for the rest, the colony of ducks, their paradise, the leader, the exercises and movement? Contentment? The sinister aspect, their being prepared for the chef? His arrival, money changing, in the plane?
7. Pam and her husband on the plane, the children on the ground, Dax and losing his feathers, his sister and her ingenuity, the ribbon and the new feathers? On the plane, the escape, the chef and his net for the chickens? Pam and her ingenuity, falling in their cage, their children to the rescue?
8. The happy rescue, arriving in Jamaica, the happiness in migrating, meeting the friendly group again?
9. And the prospects of the next migration to the South Pole!