Rated PG for action and some language.
Now Streaming on Netflix Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) is a quirky young girl who dreams of becoming a filmmaker. She is excited to head off to college in California to finally find people like her. However, she is also growing apart from her father Rick (Danny McBride), who detests his family’s reliance on their mobile devices. Wanting to try and reconnect before she leaves, Rick decides to drive Katie to college on a cross-country road trip along with his wife Linda (Maya Rudolph) and Katie’s younger brother Aaron (Mike Rianda). Though Katie is disappointed having to wait longer to meet her people, she’ll have bigger things to worry about. The tech company Pal Labs, responsible for all the tech people use, is taken over by its very advanced A.I. Pal (Olivia Coleman). She unleashes hordes of robots to rid the world of humans, believing them to be obsolete and selfish. The Mitchells with have to work through their differences when it becomes clear that they are the only ones who can save the world. I didn’t really know what to expect with this film. Originally intended for a theatrical release under the title Connected, several pandemic-induced delays forced Sony Pictures to sell off the distribution rights to Netflix. The original trailer, released a week before the pandemic hit, didn’t give a good idea what the film was about. Though it looked interesting, the trailer looked too much like a jumble of cooperate-chosen soundbites. But you know what, there’s no better feeling in the world than not knowing what to expect from a movie and end up being completely blown away. The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a gorgeously animated and surprisingly heartwarming family film that has something for everyone. It doesn’t break any new ground in terms of its commentary on technology, but what it has to say about connecting with the people we love feels positively refreshing. It’s a story about being open to the world around us. Many people only experience the world through their devices. They think they’re connecting with others and experiencing life, but in truth, you’re more alone than ever by doing that. To really connect with others, you have to experience things with your own eyes, and not always post about it on social media. And this film does a great job of presenting this message in a way feels fresh and timely. The journey of the Mitchell family is one that pulls at the heartstrings and makes you think about your own relationship with your family. Nowadays it seems like more young people have such a negative view on the traditional idea of a family, so it’s awesome to have a film that shows why it’s good to be there for the people who love you. It’s also quite a hilarious one. The script from Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, writers on Gravity Falls, bubbles with clever gags and great character-driven humor. There’s also the charms of producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who helmed The Lego Movie. Much of the humor relies on their signature form of characters comically overreacting or under reacting to various situations. This is one of those films that delivers consistent belly laughs in quick succession, to the point where you probably won’t get all the jokes in one sitting. The film is also headlined by a top tier voice cast. Each star really gets into their character and make them equal parts charming and hilarious. The highlights would have to be Danny McBride, Abbie Jacobson, and Olivia Coleman. McBride does a great job balancing the dad charm and genuine emotion, while Jacobson portrays Katie as a typically “out there” millennial without seeming too annoying. Coleman portrays a great villain in Pal; giving us a good look at her motivations and making us understand why she wants to destroy humanity. The animation is also worth highlighting. The film is brought to life with a dizzying yet mesmerizing style that seems to be trying to combine CG animation with traditional animation. It really embraces the cartoonish possibilities of not only its premise but of animated films in general. In a time where most American animated films are trying to be as realistic as possible, it’s great to have something that doesn’t try to blur the line between cartoons and reality. The Mitchells vs. the Machines finds fresh layers in its story about technology running amok, using the concept to deliver a heartwarming story about family and connecting with the world around us. It’s gorgeous animation, high amount of gut-busting, and pitch perfect cast will put a big smile on your face from the moment the film begins until the very end. If you’re looking for something new on Netflix for the whole family, this is definitely worth the stream.
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