Review by Susanne Nielsen
Migration is an (animated) adventure told from a child’s point of view by director Benjamin Renner (written by Renner and Mike White), produced for Illumination with an amusing family-friendly story complete with a a happy ending and more!
It begins with a family of mallards, mom, dad and an inquisitive little duckling and his little sister. And of course, with good Uncle Dan (voice of Danny DeVito). If migration hadn’t been an issue yet, particularly noticeable in the mallard dad’s early protests on the topic of possible change (he doesn’t want to leave at all), the rest of the family is hungry for change because they have become far too bored at home – in this case on the local pond. In any case, the enthusiastic duck mother (voice of Elizabeth Banks) is immediately excited when her two little ones want to go out into the world, including the old uncle, who is ready to join them, good-naturedly. Only the dad (voice of Kumail Nanjiani) finds that his little world is safe and definitely enough for a whole duck’s life. Yes, if it were not for the flock of birds that makes a stop on the pond, as part of its annual migration to the warm Caribbean, their short visit lights a desire in the locals for something new.
And so the little mallard family does fly out, dad a bit rusty on the direction, intending to follow them South. They land a bit off-course, in New York City. Their trip continues to be filled with all sorts of stops and encounters, with a lot of comedy in words and pictures (the kind that can only be expressed through animation!) and the wonderful voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina, and Danny DeVito. The well written dialogue and quips bring fun and the excelled animation adds exciting moments to the film.
The interaction of the curiosity-driven little ones and their feathered parents with city pigeons and their leader (Awkwafina) and with a freedom-loving parrot (Keegan-Michael Key) with a wonderful Jamaican accent, who accompanies them to their destination, sends the story with many small subplots on their journey South.
There are scenes in the big city – with a visit to the restaurant kitchen of a chef who is well versed in “duck a l’orange,” a short visit to “duck paradise”, and antics in the air make use of the little heroes’ flying abilities and voila! – This movie makes for a successful treat for young and old! Of course, life wisdom that doesn’t just apply to little mallards is incorporated into the plot.
Especially in the last part of this wonderful, colorful adventure we are reminded of the colorful “Rio”, another bird adventure! There, too, was a sequel, and the makers of Migration may have more mallard adventures to other parts of the world up their sleeves!
Additional Film Information:
Voice Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito, Kumall Nanjiani, Carol Kane
Directed by:Benjamin Renner, Guylo Homsy
Genre: Animation, Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hr. 23 min
Opening Date: January 23, 2024
Distributed by: Universal Studios
Released in: VOD, Digital