Migration (2023) Movie Review
Sending "The White Lotus" creator, Mike White, into the world of animated movies with the "Minions" crew sounded like a wild idea, but the outcome, titled "Migration," ends up taking a rather ordinary and uninspired route. The best thing to note about this somewhat enjoyable film is that it's relatively short, around 80 minutes or so. This means parents can take their kids to watch it and still have time for other holiday activities.
Migration (2023) Movie Review
In the teaser for "Migration," older kids may have noticed a scene where one young duck causes a pause in the flight because she refuses to do her business mid-air, leading everyone to land and wait while she takes a nature break. Having more of these moments could have given the movie an interesting twist that it currently lacks.
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The story revolves around Mack, a protective mallard voiced by Kumail Nanjiani, who discovers a peaceful pond for his family to live safely away from predators. He often tells bedtime stories with unfortunate endings for ducks, creating a cautious atmosphere. When a group of ducks announces their migration to Jamaica, Mack feels torn but eventually gives in to family pressure.
From there, the family embarks on episodic adventures, encountering various bird characters like pigeons, parrots, and herons, even venturing into the big city. In the urban setting, they meet a chef known for his bird dishes, who serves as a somewhat awkward and unconvincing villain in a story that jumps from one perilous situation to another.
Directed by Benjamin Renner, with a storyline credited to White, the film boasts impressive animation and a cast that includes comic talents like Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, and Keegan-Michael Key.
In the end, "Migration" delivers a somewhat clichéd message about the importance of taking risks, living life to the fullest, and allowing your kids the freedom to explore the world, no matter the potential dangers.
Illumination has found success with movies featuring talking animals, and in a year where popular animated films like Disney's "Wish" fall short on enchantment, "Migration" might serve as a pleasant alternative for a family outing. However, considering that the main characters occasionally bemoan how delectable they are, the movie doesn't quite live up to its full flavor potential.