Migration Review: Fly South for the Winter with The Mallards

Illumination Entertainment may be best known for churning out hit after hit in the Despicable Me franchise, but with Migration they’re branching out into more heartfelt waters. Directed by acclaimed animator Benjamin Renner, who helmed the Oscar-nominated film Ernest & Celestine, Migration centers around a family of New England ducks who embark on a life-changing journey beyond the confines of their small pond.

While past Illumination films have scored at the box office yet struggled to shake labels like “cynically commercial,” Renner aims to bring more artistry and emotional truth to his studio’s trademark zippy, gag-driven style. Early critical reception suggests he may have pulled it off. Many have praised Migration’s vibrant visual palette and attention to building relatable family dynamics. However some still find the storytelling too predictable and broad to match recent animated groundbreakers like Spiderverse.

But predictable doesn’t have to mean plain vanilla. Anchored by a top-notch celebrity voice cast including Kumail Nanjiani as worrywart duck dad Mack, Migration promises plenty of heartwarming antics as the Mallard family leave behind the only home they’ve ever known. Zany side characters like Awkwafina’s streetwise pigeon and enigmatic herons and parrots should keep things hopping during the fowl brood’s culture shock immersion into the wilds of New York City. Will the Mallards make fans flock to theaters and soar above lackluster Illumination offerings like Minions 2? We’ll soon find out as Migration glides into a prime holiday release window. One thing’s for certain—with an animator like Renner leading the charge, Illumination just might have the ingredients for their most fully-realized film recipe yet.

A Fowl Flock Takes Flight

At the heart of Migration are the Mallards – a close-knit intergenerational duck family whose emotional arc gives relatable shape to the larger story. As patriarch Mack, Kumail Nanjiani brings his trademark eyebrows and neurotic energy to the role of fretful father. Ever since a traumatic hatchling incident with a snapping turtle, Mack’s mantra has been “safety first, safety last” – much to the chagrin of his wanderlusting partner Pam. Voiced with verve by the ubiquitous Elizabeth Banks, Pam provides the yin to Mack’s yang. She’s an attentive mom but yearns to share the wider world’s wonders with ducklings Dax and Gwen.

Rounding out the core family unit is Uncle Dan, played with usual Danny DeVito grumpy gusto. A grizzled loner, Dan serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when you cage your wild side. Meanwhile adolescent Dax (Casper Jennings) takes after thrill-seeker Pam in his zest for life while little sister Gwen (Tresi Gazal) soaks up knowledge like a tiny feathered sponge. Their dynamics feel organic and layered despite the inevitable shorthand typing that comes with animated family roles.

The inciting incident occurs when a migrating flock inspires Pam to convince Mack to finally leave their pond for an epic trek south. After a disastrous initial flight sends them wildly off-course to Manhattan, the Mallards meet a motley crew of city bird pals led by Awkwafina’s hip hop nodding pigeon and Keegan Michael Key’s chill parrot. Set piece by set piece they slowly assist the duck family in getting their bearings to continue their journey.

It’s a serviceable if familiar narrative arc likely to resonate with kids thrilled by the idea of setting off on their own epic quest. And while the story beats rarely surprise, emotional payoffs feel earned thanks to patient groundwork establishing the Mallard’s web of relationships. Dax and Mack’s tension over the teen’s rebellious streak may be textbook family friction, but their big blowout argument mid-film still tugs at the heartstrings. Similarly, Pam’s climactic leap of faith moment, while never truly in doubt, resonates due to Banks’ empathetic voice performance.

Unlike some of their earlier properties, Illumination gives characters room here to exhibit subtle growth instead of just zigging and zagging between manic highs. The result is a gratifying tale likely to inspire its share of migration-themed games on playgrounds – even if it doesn’t fully spread its narrative wings beyond the well-charted territory of intergenerational understanding.

Charting Familiar Thematic Flight Paths

The core themes of Migration will feel reassuringly familiar to fans of classic family-focused animation. Notions of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, confronting fears, and bonding through shared adversity have anchored everything from Finding Nemo to The Incredibles. And while Migration brings welcome emotional complexity to its examination of these oft-mined topics, it rarely ventures into uncharted thematic territory.

Front and center in Migration’s messaging is the idea that change and uncertainty, while scary, are necessary catalysts for growth. Each Mallard responds differently when their migratory journey begins going sideways – Mack with doubling down on worst-case scenarios, Dax by lashing out rebelliously. But gradually they realize that adapting to unexpected challenges makes them more complete. Pam gets to spread her wings at long last. Mack learns overprotection can inadvertently injure loved ones. And their kids gain courage watching their parents model resilience.

The film also emphasizes the need to balance adventure with reasonable caution – epitomized by Mack and Pam’s opposing perspectives. Their eventual compromise highlights how parents can disagree on methods yet share the common goal of empowering children to handle independence. While avoiding overt didacticism, Migration reiterates how supportive family units who communicate openly can overcome daunting odds together– another well-worn but worthwhile moral.

Less prevalent are references to pressing current issues impacting migratory animals. While understandable given the whimsical tone, the absence of even subtle discussion around climate change or habitats under duress feels like a missed opportunity to gently expose young viewers to meaningful ecological contexts underlying all the fun flight hijinks. That chance to inspire curiosity in conservation and the natural world ultimately takes a back seat to straightforward personal growth parables.

Still, Migration deserves credit for emotional authenticity and nuance beyond typical all-ages animation. The writing and performances create space for understandable resentments, regrets, and revelations as its waterfowl heroes chart a path to Jamaica and back home again. It’s in exploring the gray areas within family dynamics that Migration makes its most meaningful migratory progress as an illumination film powered by narrative heart instead of just madcap gags and celebrity stunt casting.

A Feast for the Eyes with Occasional Stumbles

One area where Migration unquestionably soars is its visual splendor. Illumination has always prioritized glossy sheen and vibrant colors over pushing animation limits, something they lean into here via sumptuous environmental rendering. Backgrounds like the Mallard’s lilypad pond and smoggy Manhattan cityscapes pop with realistic detail. But the real stars are the atmospheric flight scenes shiftily modeled after time lapse photography. Artfully rendered clouds and fluid water effects make aerial sequences feel thrillingly immersive.

Equally striking is Migration’s character design. Supporting players like the menacing heron and Chump’s streetwise NYC pigeons feel fresh out of a graphic novel. Textures like Awkwfina’s battle scarred beak and raggedy bum foot nail the fine line between cartoony and disturbingly lifelike. Some supporting humans even flaunt surreal, horror tinged elements like elongated shadows and harsh lighting straight out of a noir thriller.

These darker moments pay clever homage to Renner’s background in indie animation like his creepy fairy tale infused Oscar nominated Ernest & Celestine. They mesh surprisingly smoothly with Migration’s family friendly tone thanks to concise runtimes preventing them from overwhelming younger viewers. Overall the film’s aesthetic offers plenty for animation nerds to appreciate without alienating casual crowds.

If Migration stumbles visually, it’s in the transitions between hand drawn and CG animation. After an enchanting 2D opening sequence aping storybook illustrations, the film shifts to modern 3D character models. The contrast can feel jarring early on before familiarity kicks in. Additionally, a few later moments like the climactic sinking helicopter scene feel stylistically incongruous compared to the refined realism dominating most shots.

But considering how reliant Illumination typically is on smooth family friendly house style, this sprinkle of daring experimentation with mixed media should be applauded. Mileage may vary on which artistic detours pay off, but they prevent Migration from homogenizing into anonymous animation anonymity. Between lush backdrops and clever character design accents, Renner provides no shortage of visually arresting moments likely to dazzle the film’s core youth demographic.

Finding the Funny Bone Without Pandering

Comedic expectations for an Illumination joint inevitably involve rapid-fire pratfalls, pop culture references and celebrity stunt casting galore. So it’s to Migration’s credit that while it checks some of those boxes, it also maintains a less cynical, more character-anchored comedic tone compared to stablemates like Minions 2.

Make no mistake – little kids will erupt with laughter over moments like party dude parrot Delroy quipping “We’re gonna turn this pond into Duck Coachella!” But such transparent play for generational chuckles feel less shoehorned in than usual thanks to Nanjiani, Awkwafina and the gang’s enthusiastic vocal performances. Indeed, the most hilarious bits stem organically from the ducks’ quirky personalities. Danny DeVito’s deadpan reading of Uncle Dan’s gloomy life lessons deserve their own spinoff.

The animators also have fun with horror tropes when threats arise. The sinister heron feels ripped from a Hitchcock film all the way down to her creepy vocally modulated greetings. These tension ratcheting sequences balance sinister and silly expertly, preventing younger viewers from feeling overwhelmed. The result is a tonally dynamic blend of physical humor, ironic wordplay and characters simply bouncing off each other’s distinct personalities.

Granted, certain recurring gags like the adrenaline addicted French chef’s pursuit of the family in hopes of baking the perfect duck dish lean too hard. But generally the writers trust the inherent comedy emerging from the improbable scenario of a duck family braving NYC. Sight gags like their flabbergasted reactions to flashy Broadway musical ads or a dive bombing hot dog perfectly walk that line between obvious yet charmingly specific.

If some lament the absence of boundary pushing satire for older crowds, that simply reinforces that Migration knows its lane. This is quality family entertainment first and foremost. Consistent laughs stem organically from character, even when premises venture into eye rolling terrain. Illumination plays it safer than say a Lego Movie, but the joke writing here outperforms recent studio efforts by a country mile.

Auditory Textures Delight Despite Restraint

While not primarily character driven, Migration’s thoughtful use of music and sound design serves the storytelling nicely without ever overpowering visual splendors. Composer Heitor Pereira’s vibrant score bounces between whimsical woodwinds for the Mallard’s rustic intro scenes and propulsive percussion backing NYC set pieces. Gospel choirs give soaring aerial group shots an emotional boost that enhances their grandeur.

Standout audio moments stem from the filmmakers’ judicious deployment of pop songs and ambient city soundscapes. An exuberant Spanish Harlem street party dance sequence allows Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” to underline the family’s scrappy determination with gleeful defiance. In contrast, the absent background score during the menacing midnight hunt by the predatory French chef proves hugely effective in ratcheting tension. The lack of aural cues beyond the Mallards’ panicked breathing and their pursuer’s footsteps makes his sudden appearances even scarier.

Some might argue a more intense electronica score might have better matched certain high energy scenes. But the overall restraint pays dividends in not distracting from dazzling visual components. And enough melodic hooks stick in one’s head post-viewing to satisfy kids begging for a Migration soundtrack. Like the film itself, the audio rises above serviceable without showboating technique just for technique’s sake. The final mix allows character quips, natural ambience, subtle scoring and the occasional needle drop to effortlessly coalesce into an immersive atmosphere.

A Heartfelt Migration That Could Have Flown Higher

In the end, Illumination’s Migration soars as a beautifully rendered animated comedy adventure distinguished by emotional authenticity and standout performances. Renewed critical affection remains muted by familiar themes and episodic story beats. But vibrant aesthetics combined with lovingly crafted relationships should delight kids and parents eager for wholesome holiday viewing options.

If Migration never fully spreads its narrative wings, it at least perfects the Illumination formula rather than simply rehashing it. Nuanced writing and character development outweigh the predictable overarching plot. And for once celebrity stunt casting takes a welcome backseat to capturing distinctive personality quirks driving the humor. Little touches like framing devices aping illustrated storybooks demonstrate artistic aspiration absent from cash cows like Minions 2.

Still, narratively Migration hews extremely close to a Pixar or DreamWorks blueprint. Thematically it offers fewer boundary pushing ideas than recent animated groundbreakers like Soul or Mitchells vs the Machines. Its cultural footprint may prove more muted compared to era-defining classics from animation powerhouses like Disney. But I think there’s still substantial appeal in quality craftsmanship over high concept originality.

Indeed, Migration’s closest recent comparable may be The Bad Guys. Like that DreamWorks heist flick, this duck family quest relies on trope subversion and expert style execution over narrative invention. Visually Migration equals most 2022 animated offerings, while characters like Awkwafina’s streetwise NYC pigeons possess similar appeal to the Bad Guys’ reformed animal outlaws. Neither film redefines the form, but both serve elevated comfort food for audiences hungry for humor and heart over heady life lessons.

In that vein, Migration’s biggest strength lies in establishing a new family unit that could sustain multiple franchise entries without wearing out their welcome. The Mallards’ journey bonds them while opening up a wider world of possible migratory misadventures. Short sequels focused on seasonal return trips with elevated scope could perform well. Migration remains family-friendly yet narratively rich enough to inspire a flock of imaginative youthful games about the hidden lives of backyard birds. For Illumination, crafting new iconic IP that conjures such whimsy may be the most significant migratory leap of all.

Also Read:

Journey into the Enchanting American South with South of Midnight, a Stunning Third-Person Magic Adventure Fly Back to Neverland With Peter Pan and Wendy: New Trailer and Release Date! Hogwarts Legacy’s New Glitch: Fly on a Broomstick or Walk on It? Venba Review: South Indian Traditions in a Canadian Setting