Migration

December 20th, 2023

MOVIE: MIGRATION

STARRING: KUMAIL NANJIANI, ELIZABETH BANKS, DANNY DEVITO, AWKWAFINA, KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY

DIRECTED BY: BENJAMIN RENNER, GUYLO HOMSY

AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)

Family vacations will always be comedy gold. It doesn’t matter the animal, from the penguins in Happy Feet, the prehistoric gang in Ice Age, or a lion in Madagascar, the journey is just as fun as the destination. That also works for Migration, which follows a family of ducks, getting out of their comfort zone and migrating to Jamaica for the winter. Taking the journey is easier said than done since they’ve never left their little pond. As far as animated movies go, Migration is a delightful family journey, filled with plenty of fowl puns, and comedic hijinxs.

The Mallard family is daddy duck Mack (Kumail Nanjiani), mommy duck Pam (Elizabeth Banks), and their two children Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal). They live in a quiet little pond. In their isolated paradise, trees surround them, cool blue water, and the comfort of a place they know. For Mack, he’s molded it that way. He’s comfortable and tells his kids stories of scary cranes that would eat them if they got the chance. When a group of birds stop in their pond on the fly south, they speak about a warm place like Jamaica, where the water glows, and the food is plentiful. Pam and the kids long for adventure but Mack refuses to migrate out of fear. When his Uncle Dan (voiced hilariously by Danny DeVito) states that sticking out is the way to go, this alerts Mack that he’s turning into an old bird, and instead decides it’s time for a family adventure, no matter how scared he gets.

From an animation aspect, Migration is right in step with Illumination’s previous work with Minions: The Rise of Gru, Sing 2, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but what works most is a collective story. Written by Mike White and Benjamin Renner, each bird offers their unique personality, while the trip takes them to various locations, both scary and audacious. The family journeys through New York City, zooming past high rises, landing in Central Park, meeting a group of pigeons led by Chump (voiced by Awkwafina), and eventually saving a toucan named Delroy (Keegan-Michael Key) from a tatted-up sous chef. Through their trip, they will grow comfortable with what the big world has to offer them.

Although the journey is never boring, the only shortcomings lie in a bit of redundancy, something that could have been rectified by a better villain. What can’t be stopped is the comedic timing between Nanjiani and Banks, both staying in their lanes as a bickering but complimenting couple. Picture the Griswalds in National Lampoon’s Vacation, but only this time they’re flying in the air instead of in a station wagon. It feels like Migration can have multiple installments and they become funnier with each new scenario.

Migration may be missing the elevated grace of The Boy and the Heron but it’s one of the more sophisticated animated films from Illumination. There’s no gibberish speaking Minion or use of pop music to lure an audience in the way Sing did. Just a good old-fashioned road trip comedy. Plenty of laughs and fun for the entire family. Migration soars high for all to see.

MIGRATION IS IN THEATERS FRIDAY DECEMBER 22ND, 2023.

3 STARS

Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com