Migration Movie Review

Just in time for the holidays, Illumination, the studio that brought us Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comes Migration, a brand new film about a family of mallard ducks and their winter vacation to Jamaica.

From a screenplay by Mike White, the Emmy-winning creator of The White Lotus and the screenwriter of School of Rock, the film features an all-star comedic cast led by Oscar^® and Emmy nominee Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Eternals) as worried Mallard dad Mack and Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect franchises) as Pam, the Mallards’ adventurous and loving mom. Caspar Jennings plays Dax, the Mallards’ teen son, and, in her feature film debut, Tresi Gazal plays Gwen, the family’s fun-loving adorable daughter.

Our family attended a preview of this new film at the Cinemark in Merriam (the most affordable theater in the metro). The film opens on Dec. 22 and is a great pick for a family movie this holiday season! 

The story follows the Mallard family. They've been living in the same New England pond forever, choosing to stay every winter rather than migrating South. Mack, the father of the family, is afraid of the world and considers it his job to protect his family at all costs. Adventure-seeking mother, Pam, wants to show her children the world. And, teen son, Dax (who finds himself smitten when another family stops by en route to Jamaica), and duckling daughter Gwen, want to experience adventure and fun. They are also joined by their curmudgeonly Uncle Dan, voiced by and resembling Danny DeVito.

After much persuading, they convince Mack to take the family to Jamaica for the winter. Along the way, they encounter many relatable (and some not-so-relatable) obstacles. My husband and I laughed at so many conversations that we've had on family road trips ("We are NOT stopping for another bathroom break," "Oh, wait! We are."), and the stages of life as teens grow up and want to exert their independence, and younger children are always there for "Free Hugs."

This family-friendly comedy was wholesome and fun for the entire family. It was refreshing to see a film where a family works out their struggles but truly loves and supports one another the entire time. The parents are good role models who love their kids, and the kids are loyal to one another and their parents. 

As every seasoned parent knows, no road trip ever goes exactly as planned. Packed with adventure and misadventure, along the way. They encounter an elderly heron couple who they are unsure whether to trust or not. They make friends with pigeons in New York City, headed by lead pigeon, Chump, voiced by Awkwafina. She leads them to a caged Jamaican parrot, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, who they discover is the imprisoned pet of a maniacal chef. In classic cartoon style, this leads to a rescue sequence full of suspense and adventure. These experiences inspire the Mallards to expand their horizons, make new friends, learn more about one another, and face their fears. 

Migration features beautiful animation, relatable humor, charming characters (Gwen stole our hearts), and heart. Throughout the movie you learn just how much this family loves one and supports one another and their friends. This is a delightful family film to enjoy this holiday season!

Genre: Animated Action-Comedy

Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal and Danny DeVito

Screenplay by: Mike White

Directed by: Benjamin Renner

Producers: Chris Meledandri