“Migration,” an animated comedy by Illumination Studios, was released on Dec. 22, 2023. The movie tells the story of a bird family migrating to Jamaica. The film had a star-studded cast, with the main characters voiced by actors Elizabeth Banks, Kumail Nanjiani, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, and Danny DeVito.
The story follows a family of Mallards who have lived in their New England pond comfortably their whole lives. However after a group of ducks makes a temporary stop in their pond on the way to Jamaica, the ducklings Dax and Gwen try to convince their reluctant dad and mom to migrate to Jamaica too. Eventually, the dad gives in, and the family of four (plus Uncle Dan), begins the long journey south.
Compared to its recognizable cast list and well-known writers, such as Mike White, known for “White Lotus,” “School of Rock,” and “Year of the Dog,” the movie was a letdown. If you are going to the movie theater expecting the film to live up to the likes of “Rio” or “Minions,” prepare to be disappointed.
The storyline is dull and all scenes are predictable. There was never any doubt that they would make it to Jamaica, even with the few, lackluster conflicts throughout the story. Though the story builds up to their arrival in Jamaica, the ending is a disappointment, leaving the movie feeling dry and unremarkable.
Despite the visually appealing animations and imaginative depictions of a ‘pig heaven,’ the movie fails to captivate its audience. Additionally, while it explores the theme of overcoming fear and living life to the fullest, the storyline needs more depth to engage viewers.
Furthermore, although the film is a work of fiction, “Migration” is excessively unrealistic and lacks relatability to real-life situations. For example, in the movie, Delroy’s master uses a helicopter to search for his lost parrot and mallards are the prey of herons.
Regardless, from the viewpoint of young children, who pay less attention to detail, the movie is a good educational tool that exposes them to different species of birds and shows how birds migrate in the winter. However, the information presented in the film is not entirely accurate and the movie is boring.
Although the movie was an absolute flop, with lackluster characters and a dull storyline, the film can be appealing to younger audiences such as children under 10 years old. Due to its 80-minute time length and PG rating, it is perfect for kids with a short attention span who want to see an educational movie about birds. Anyone older would find the film boring and unrealistic, and discover it to be a waste of time.
