In a year in which The Boy and the Heron opened at #1 and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse pushed the boundaries of animation, Migration might seem a bit stuck in the past. The latest offering from Illumination – the Minions folks – is yet another family story of anthropomorphized animals on a road trip, but its warmth and humor make it a perfectly acceptable holiday distraction.
Mack (Kumail Nanjiani) and Pam (Elizabeth Banks) are mallards content raising their two ducklings – Dax and Gwen – on the same pond, year after year. Mack is overprotective, happy to keep the kids close by by telling them scary stories about life outside the pond. But when a group of migrating ducks inspires Pam and the kids, Mack tries to prove he’s fun and adventurous by organizing a spur-of-the-moment migration to Jamaica.
You’ve seen this story before, many, many times. If you are surprised to learn that Mack discovers his courage and learns that his kids are more capable than he ever assumed, and that the family grows closer through their crazy adventures, I wish to congratulate you on seeing your first movie. Migration is nothing new and, story-wise, could be mistaken for any number of animated films from the last two decades.
But familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt, and the film’s warmth and humor go a long way toward keeping the film fun for kids without making parents feel like they’re suffering. Nanjiani brings his brand of insecurity and faux bravado to make Max a likable father, and the vocal chemistry between he and Banks helps create a parental unit that is refreshingly fun and positive, instead of always at odds with each other or too stupid to simply understand their kids.
Tress MacNeille, Chris Renaud, Russi Taylor, and Benjamin Renner in “Migration.” © Universal/Illumination.
The story constantly moves and introduces colorful supporting characters, from a heron played by Carol Kane who might or might not be planning to cook the family, to a pigeon with an attitude played by Awkwafina to introducing Keegan-Michael Key as a homesick parrot. There’s a fun dash through New York City and a subplot involving a villainous chef, and the film shows restraint when it comes to bathroom humor and duck puns. Whenever it feels close to lagging, the film relies on Danny DeVito for a gag, playing the family’s crotchety uncle.
It’s also often a joy to look at. No, the computer imagery doesn’t rival the best of Pixar or shatter boundaries like the Spider-Verse movies, but the characters have fun designs and the cityscapes and country forests are warm and colorful. Kids will like the energy and laughs, and adults will enjoy the warm relationships between the characters and the lessons about courage and togetherness that the film delivers for the youngsters.
This review might sound like it’s damning Migration with faint praise, which isn’t the intention. You can’t escape that fact that it’s not striving to do anything new or notable, but it’s a perfectly enjoyable bit of family entertainment, and will prove a welcome time-waster over Christmas break.
