Movie Review - Migration

 

So Illumination are back with their latest flick and honestly, after The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I wasn't really sure what to expect from this one. I will admit that most of Illumination's films are the same in terms of animation and genres, but that's not a bad thing. Most of the time, especially for films targetted at families and children, are fine being a rinse and repeat as long as the idea is good and unique. Originality is often very difficult for many to do, with art house succeeding more on that front over major blockbusters like this. But I can't say I haven't seen a film about ducks migrating to another part of the world. For the most part, the animated or otherwise, ducks I have seen, are all anthropomorphic. Daffy Duck, Donald Duck, Po's adoptive father, Howard the Duck and the list goes on. So kind of original in that sense, but let's see if it's like every other Illumination film:

After a short film that explores one of the unanswered questions of the first Despicable Me films, we head to a New England forest where a duck called Mack Mallard (no relation to Maui Mallard, voiced by Kumail Nanjiani) is constantly discouraging his children Dax (voiced by Casper Jennings) and Gwen (voiced by Tresi Gazal) from venturing to the outside world which is a constant annoyance to his wife Pam (voiced by Elizabeth Banks). After a migrating group of ducks land in their pond, the family soon become convinced that they need to venture out into the big world and so after talking to his uncle (voiced by Danny DeVito), Mack and his family fly the next day and go on an adventure. Meeting a few interesting characters and more along the way.

So I will say that I wasn't particularly keen on this one. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad film by any means. In fact, I would say it's got a good if not familiar score and not too colourful and bright animation for most of the film (a big change for an Illumination film). Plus it did make me chuckle a few times too. But it is primarily a film targetted for children and families, with a very predictable plot and just enough stuff to keep children glued to the screen. In terms of it being a duck film, it is a nice change to the usual anthropomorphic ducks we keep seeing a lot of. Chances of me watching this again are slim, but it was fine for what it was. Plus in the UK, a member of the band McFly and his wife, voice a couple of characters in the film which if you like McFly as in their music or good looks, you may find some enjoyment in this. The UK comedian, David Mitchell, is also in this too as another duck and I feel it's a little out of place for him if he isn't playing an angry duck because Mitchell being angry is funny. Anyway, the film for me gets a 5/10