Alma K. reviews the new Miyazaki film, Migration
7The plot of Migration is great and the entire film is hilarious! There’s so much drama, so much comedy… And the one-liners are perfect. One of my favorites is “I’m teaching them very valuable fears. I should know, I’ve had them my whole life.”
The story follows a family of migrating mallard ducks. While the dad -- Mack (Kumail Nanjiani) -- is content to keep his family safe in their New England pond forever, the mom -- Pam (Elizabeth Banks) – is eager to see what’s out there and show their kids Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal) the world. After another group of ducks lands in their pond, as a rest stop from their journey to Jamaica, with thrilling tales of far-flung places, including water that glows, Pam persuades Mack to embark on a family trip: their first-ever migration.
The different styles of animation at the beginning of Migration are really impressive -- and funny too. Within practically the first five seconds of the film, there are ducks doing a line dance. The film is also sweet and dramatic -- and it showcases the family's dynamic. The sibling relationship between the two kid ducks is the same as real sibling relationships. It goes to show that just because we can’t always understand animals doesn’t mean they don’t have thoughts and feelings. And I was scared right along with them when they met a heron (Carol Kane). I love the backgrounds which make it seem so magical when they soar through the sky. The views are absolutely majestic, especially when they make it to New York City. They have some typical New Yorker experiences, like meeting a rat for example. And I love hilariously funny Uncle Dan, my favorite character. It probably helps that Danny DeVito portrays him. He tries to eat a sandwich from the trash and all the pigeons attack him. Leading this group of pigeons is Chump (Awkwafina) who makes hilarious comments like, “Haha. You missed, bus!” right before getting run over by a scooter. My favorite line in the film is a bird’s definition of a chef. “A chef -- he’s like a predator except instead of eating you, he feeds you to a much lazier group of predators.” And the final scene! I won’t spoil it here but there is a crocodile involved. The entire movie is perfect.
Migration is about adventure, and seeing what life has to offer. Sure, that might be a little scary, but the message is that it’s so worth it.
I give Migration 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend Migration for ages 5-18, and I especially recommend it for families. Migration is Available in theaters now. Go check it out! You’ll love it. https://youtu.be/Jqyu0v9G4Y0
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