Migration doesn’t offer much new to audiences, with a generic script and animation style. It’s fine, but nothing special.
While Migration boasts a talented cast such as Elizabeth Banks, Kumail Nanjiani, Danny DeVito, and Keegan-Michael Key, the generic script and storyline make it a forgettable animated feature that is fine, but nothing more.
Following a family of ducks on their first migration, it should come as no surprise that they have a hard time navigating the real world. They get lost, they come across predators, and they ultimately end up in a fight that separates them. All generic tropes that are found in family road trip / adventure films.
Even the family is typical. One of the parents is scared to leave the nest, while the other wants adventure. The son meets a girl and immediately starts crushing on her, which is why he wants to migrate to Jamaica, while the young sister is sassy and a bit spooky at times — the only one to really deliver any laughs, also. Of course there is also the loner Uncle that gets roped into coming along. The villain, if you can call him that, doesn’t do much at all. Heck, he doesn’t even talk.
The mallard family makes several stops along their path, with none of them going as planned. The story line itself feels disjointed and unexciting. It is extremely predictable with the best part being little Gwen’s commentary and facial expressions. The journey often feels disjointed, and for a ninety minute long movie, it feels overly long.
The lessons baked into Migration are about finding the courage to step outside of your comfort zone. This is a great message for little ones, but something we have seen time and time again. Migration does nothing to separate itself from the previous films that deliver the same lessons, once again, making it feel generic and offering up nothing new.
Even the animation style brings nothing new to the table. There doesn’t seem to be any technological advances or unique techniques used. I would even go so far as to say that some of the shots, especially of the colorful shots of the birds, don’t work at all on the screen.
All of this said, I brought my ten year old daughter with me to see Migration and she had a blast. She was cracking up through most of dialogue and, quite literally, on the edge of her seat through the action set pieces. It is safe to say that this film really honed in on its target audience, younger kids that just want to laugh to silly jokes.
While she did enjoy it, the trailer does not do a good job of capturing the attention of children. I cannot think of one child that is going to tell their parents they want to watch a movie about birds flying south for the winter. Unfortunately it just didn’t do enough to promote itself in a way that will have kids begging their parents to go see it.
Mooned, a short featuring Despicable Me villain Vector and some minions plays before Migration. While also made for a younger audience, this one isn’t even enjoyable for minion fans. Not once did it deliver laughs. It isn’t entertaining, or even good, unfortunately. So there is no rush to be in your seats if you are stuck at the concession stand before Migration starts.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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About Migration
This holiday season, Illumination, creators of the blockbuster Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comedies, invites you to take flight into the thrill of the unknown with a funny, feathered family vacation like no other in the action-packed new original comedy, Migration.
The Mallard family is in a bit of rut. While dad Mack is content to keep his family safe paddling around their New England pond forever, mom Pam is eager to shake things up and show their kids—teen son Dax and duckling daughter Gwen—the whole wide world. After a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, Pam persuades Mack to embark on a family trip, via New York City, to tropical Jamaica.
As the Mallards make their way South for the winter, their well-laid plans quickly go awry. The experience will inspire them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends and accomplish more than they ever thought possible, while teaching them more about each other—and themselves—than they ever imagined.
