WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
This animated family adventure by Phil Lord and Chris Miller is completely adorable and a contender for “Best Animation” for next year’s Academy Awards.
It’s about a quirky, dysfunctional family that goes on a road trip which is upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity’s unlikeliest last hope.
It’s so much more than just that though. There’s a lot to unpack such as lessons about family, self-confidence, Artificial Intelligence, social commentary on our dependence on our cell phones, and so much more. The family-friendly flick was written and directed by both Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe.
IS IT ANY GOOD? (A)
This hilarious movie is so inventive and fun. The comedic beats fly fast and furiously. Every frame is entertaining and creative. Sony Pictures Animation has clearly learned from the many mistakes made in The Emoji Movie. The influence of the award-winning movies The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse can be seen in the style of this film. This movie would have been so much fun to watch in a movie theater because the audience’s laughter would be contagious and energetic. Due to the pandemic, it’s now available on Netflix!
The cast that lends its voice talent to the animated characters features Abbi Jacobson, as Katie, the protagonist teen/film student. Danny McBride voices the loveable dad who gives off a little dad-vibe in the movie The Incredibles. Saturday Night Live star Maya Rudolph voices the mom, Linda, who is super relatable and sweet. The rest of the incredible voice talent includes Academy Award-winning Olivia Colman, Eric Andre, married power couple Chrissy Teigen & John Legend, Conan O’Brien, and SNL stars Fred Armisen, Jay Pharoah, Beck Bennet, and Sasheer Zamata. All of the characters are super realistic, distinctive, and entertaining. The character design is really great.
The background designs and set pieces are detailed, rich, and hilarious. The onscreen effects add another layer of richness and humor that is adorable and awesome. I love the look of a 2D cartoon animation added on top of a 3D animation, much like what we saw in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse They look like the kind of effects Katie would add if she had made the movie. There are tons of funny references to and social commentary on pop culture which are illustrated visually, as well as spoken by the characters. The “fourth wall” is broken by one of the characters during one particular moment. The fourth wall refers to that invisible line that separates the audience from the characters. When the character looks straight at the audience, she instantly lets the audience into the joke and reveals a new level of vulnerability.
The pacing flies at a brisk pace, except for in a few moments when old home movies are viewed to provide the sentimental foundation between the father and daughter as they struggle with their relationship. Parents will definitely be able to relate to the evolving relationships they have with their children as they grow up. This movie is entertaining and insightful for both adults and kids because of the humor and issues addressed. The young son in the family is voiced by writer/director Michael Rianda who was probably trying to dip into voice acting like director Brad Bird did with The Incredibles. Unfortunately, Michael Rianda’s voice simply wasn’t the right fit for the son, Aaron Mitchell. His voice was way too old-sounding and it never had a comedic payoff.
The resolution of the story is pretty predictable, even though there are a couple of false endings. Act 3 just keeps going and going. Keep watching during the end credits to see pictures of the film’s creators with their families. Nice touch.
IS IT OKAY FOR YOUR KIDS? (PG)
This film is refreshingly wholesome and family-friendly with no profanity! Yay! Family weirdness is celebrated. The entire film is family-centric and has a solid message about celebrating the unique differences and strengths in one another like in the movie The Incredibles. The members of the family often feel misunderstood, but they learn to communicate better, have more self-confidence, and work together. It’s revealed quickly in the last scene that Katie is a lesbian but her family easily embraces her choices.
ANY WORTHWHILE MESSAGES?
- The importance of family and relationships
- Connection with each other
- Unity and working together
- The value of creativity and thinking outside the box
- People can change
- Determination and sacrificing for others and the greater good
- Jealousy and competition
Movie Review Mom: Trina Boice teaches online at BYU-I, is a #1 best-selling author of 31 books, and a mother of 4 sons. You can read more of her reviews at www.MovieReviewMom.com You can hear her podcast “Daily Inspirational Quotes Hosted by Trina” on Amazon Echo devices, Volley FM, and on your favorite podcasting platform. She’s an author coach at www.FromBook2Business.com and she founded an online school and continues to create courses at www.LifelongLearningEducation.com Because she is a popular speaker in China and loves to travel around the world, she created www.EmptyNestTravelHacker.com You can also find @TrinaBoice on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
