By Reed Ripley
Christmas is a big movie holiday, but it typically isn’t known for bigtime animated releases unless that release is helmed by a certain green individual who lives up on Mount Crumpit. However, every once in a while, a studio takes a swing on an original animated feature, and thankfully, this year brings Migration, an unexpectedly delightful film the whole family can enjoy.
Migration is a classic road movie, and a really good one at that. A lovable family of mallards—parents Pam (Elizabeth Banks) and Mack (Kumail Nanjiani), kids Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal), and grizzled uncle Dan (Danny DeVito)—decides to leave their humble pond and migrate to Jamaica for the winter, and encounter trials and tribulations, and plenty of new friends, along the way. Honestly, it’s a reverse National Lampoon’s Vacation, in that a loving family guilts their reluctant dad into an adventure.
The film comes from Illumination, a studio that’s made a name for itself cranking out extremely profitable animated films since 2010’s Despicable Me. However, there’s seemingly been something holding the studio back from breaking through to the widespread critical acclaim that a studio like Pixar enjoys. That’s likely attributable to Illumination’s tendency to play to the lowest common denominator to get kids howling—sight gags and physical comedy.
Across the board, Migration feels like a level-up. The studio’s previous productions all looked basically the same and had a plasticky, production line feel. Not poorly done at all but just smooth in a way that wasn’t particularly interesting. In contrast, Migration is downright painterly at times, especially early on in the film with beautiful autumnal backdrops and later on as the mallards wend through bright, billowing clouds on their journey south. It’s not necessarily pushing the bounds of existing animation, but it’s trying in ways Illumination hasn’t yet shown it is willing to try.
Additionally, the story and characters are simply elevated. It keeps the slapstick comedy in place for which Illumination’s known, but there’s so much more depth. By the film’s end, the individual motivations of each family member, and how those motivations clash and weave together, are established to the point that when the film wants to tug at your emotions, it really succeeds.
No, Illumination isn’t Pixar, but it feels like the gap may not be far from closing. Coming off a banner year in which The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed more than $1 billion, Migration feels like a real flex for a studio that’s not just satisfied with trotting out the minions and calling it a day.
Discover more from Martin City Telegraph
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.