Set on Bird Island, where flightless multi-coloured birds are perennially friendly and giving out hugs for free, Red (Jason Sudeikis) lives the life of a social outcast for harboring an overwhelming amount of anger. Judge Peckinpah (Keegan-Michael Key) then sends him to anger-management classes under Matilda (Maya Rudolph), and there he meets yellow speedster named Chuck (Josh Gad), a literally explosive budgie named Bomb (Danny McBride), and a grunting giant maroon bird named Terence (Sean Penn). Along then comes a pirate ship of green pigs captained by Leonard (Bill Hader) who introduces them to a "new technology". While the other birds welcome their arrival, Red grows suspicious of the pigs' true nefarious intent.
Much like the mobile game, though less addictive, The Angry Birds Movie can be entirely summarized as 'colorful angry birds sling-shotting themselves at greedy pigs.' The film's slim plot is brought to life by bloating the movie with "Looney Tunes"-slapstick humor, bird puns, and a barrage of pop-culture references. While this is never a good sign of assured storytelling, most of the gags are actually hits than misses. Two of the funniest scenes involve Red, Chuck and Bomb's discovery of the Lake of Wisdom and a mama bird regurgitating food into her children's lunch boxes (talk about biological accuracy). The movie is clearly aimed at children, with all the bright colors and its simplistic plot; yet some of its content is actually directed to adults. Take for example the allusions to The Shining and Fifty Shades of Grey', 80's song choices like Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" and Red responding to a bad news with, "Pluck my life." (Good luck to all parents on explaining that line.)
By the third act, the movie starts to re-enact the game and we witness the angry birds in action, as they whirr their way through the pig town's citadel and blowing stuff in a Rube Goldberg fashion. You will be laughing hard at this point either because a.) these birds really do have bird brains, or b.) reality dawns on you that the film's plot is downright nonsensical. It is hard to take this movie seriously because it is so ridiculous and so unfocused—haven't I mention a scene where the pigs start singing a Blake Shelton song out of nowhere?
On a technical note, the team behind The Angry Birds Movie does an impressive job on the animation, from the feathery texture of the cutesy birds to the vibrant tropical setting. The voice cast willingly throw themselves into the silliness of the script. Jason Sudeikis as Red shines in sarcasm, Josh Gad (whose voice we previously heard as Olaf in Frozen) lends a hyperactive voice to Chuck, Danny Mcbride steps aside from his usual foul-mouthed character and portrays a dim-witted voice in Bomb. Peter Dinklage ironically playing the Mighty Eagle brings a comedic yet majestic voice to his character.
While these are welcome compensations, all the sticks come crashing down when the film goes against the virtues that it is fighting for in the beginning—empathy and friendship. It imparts a murky message to its young viewers that rage-fueled violence is a key resolution to problems; not exactly a child- friendly thesis as compared to those of the other two animated films earlier released this year: Kung Fu Panda 3 (believing in yourself) and Zootopia (accepting diversity).
The Angry Birds Movie lacks genuine inspiration, telling a sagging narrative kept afloat by a steady stream of visual gags and stray media references. "Anger is weed growing in our garden," says Matilda. And just like suppressed anger, I'll have to pluck this movie out of my top recommended animated features.
Full review here: http://www.filmpolicereviews.com/reviews/the-angry-birds-movie
Much like the mobile game, though less addictive, The Angry Birds Movie can be entirely summarized as 'colorful angry birds sling-shotting themselves at greedy pigs.' The film's slim plot is brought to life by bloating the movie with "Looney Tunes"-slapstick humor, bird puns, and a barrage of pop-culture references. While this is never a good sign of assured storytelling, most of the gags are actually hits than misses. Two of the funniest scenes involve Red, Chuck and Bomb's discovery of the Lake of Wisdom and a mama bird regurgitating food into her children's lunch boxes (talk about biological accuracy). The movie is clearly aimed at children, with all the bright colors and its simplistic plot; yet some of its content is actually directed to adults. Take for example the allusions to The Shining and Fifty Shades of Grey', 80's song choices like Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" and Red responding to a bad news with, "Pluck my life." (Good luck to all parents on explaining that line.)
By the third act, the movie starts to re-enact the game and we witness the angry birds in action, as they whirr their way through the pig town's citadel and blowing stuff in a Rube Goldberg fashion. You will be laughing hard at this point either because a.) these birds really do have bird brains, or b.) reality dawns on you that the film's plot is downright nonsensical. It is hard to take this movie seriously because it is so ridiculous and so unfocused—haven't I mention a scene where the pigs start singing a Blake Shelton song out of nowhere?
On a technical note, the team behind The Angry Birds Movie does an impressive job on the animation, from the feathery texture of the cutesy birds to the vibrant tropical setting. The voice cast willingly throw themselves into the silliness of the script. Jason Sudeikis as Red shines in sarcasm, Josh Gad (whose voice we previously heard as Olaf in Frozen) lends a hyperactive voice to Chuck, Danny Mcbride steps aside from his usual foul-mouthed character and portrays a dim-witted voice in Bomb. Peter Dinklage ironically playing the Mighty Eagle brings a comedic yet majestic voice to his character.
While these are welcome compensations, all the sticks come crashing down when the film goes against the virtues that it is fighting for in the beginning—empathy and friendship. It imparts a murky message to its young viewers that rage-fueled violence is a key resolution to problems; not exactly a child- friendly thesis as compared to those of the other two animated films earlier released this year: Kung Fu Panda 3 (believing in yourself) and Zootopia (accepting diversity).
The Angry Birds Movie lacks genuine inspiration, telling a sagging narrative kept afloat by a steady stream of visual gags and stray media references. "Anger is weed growing in our garden," says Matilda. And just like suppressed anger, I'll have to pluck this movie out of my top recommended animated features.
Full review here: http://www.filmpolicereviews.com/reviews/the-angry-birds-movie