Migration Review

Illumination (previously Illumination Entertainment), the animation studio behind the Despicable Me, Minions, and The Secret Life Of Pets franchises, now introduces a family of ducks out on an adventure.

Migration is the story of a cautious mallard duck, Mack (Kumail Nanjiani), who is reluctantly persuaded into a migratory journey by his rather adventurous wife Pam (Elizabeth Banks) and excitable kids Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal). Leaving their safe pond for the famed sunny climes of Jamaica, the family must brave various dangers for a prize whose beauty they've only heard of. Crazy herons, missed directions, murderous humans and their deathtrap cities, angry pigeons... the mallards have to overcome every challenge thrown their way to succeed.

Migration is a well-made, enjoyable experience. This is a movie that was clearly crafted with a lot of love, and it shows. Silly dialogue, slapstick humour, over-the-top drama - everything is presented with a sincerity that makes it endearing to even adult viewers. It's not a perfect film by any means, but there's a certain element of delicate and deliberate care that runs through its heart which makes the decidedly average narrative still feel immersive.

There is an unexpectedly delicious scene that stands out which really caught us off guard, where the ducks meet a pair of elderly herons. Erin (Carol Kane), the female great blue heron, gives off a fantastically eerie vibe, and we're never quite sure of what her intentions are. We really hoped we'd see more of her by the end because of her invitation at the end of the scene, but alas, it never came.

Kids will find the film immersive - it is quite bright and colourful. There are however a few darker scenes in the movie, both visually and in terms of the story, that parents should be warned of, especially if watching with very young children.

The entire cast does phenomenally well at voice acting, with Danny DeVito's Uncle Dan being the most memorable. DeVito has been given the most fun part in the movie, of an ageing uncle who is unbothered and has no f**ks left to give (for lack of a better term) - and he smashes it out of the park.

Migration is wholesome family fun, and it isn't too bad for adults, either. The only part that feels like a letdown is how much humans are involved. The menacing chef, out to get the ducks by hook or crook, stays in frame for way longer than he should have.

Just show us the birds, don't give us the bird, thank you. (This review was an exercise in self-restraint for yours truly, trying to not have a bird pun in every sentence. To avoid all fowl play, a compromise was reached where we only end with a pun. Or two. Or three, I have no regrets.)