Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito, Awkwafina, Carol Kane, Keegan-Michael Key, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal, Awkwafina, David Mitchell
OUR RATING: ★★★½
Story:
Illumination animated adventure comedy directed by Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy. Migration (2023) follows the Mallards, a family of ducks. While dad Mack (Kumail Nanjiani) is content to keep his family safe paddling around their New England pond forever, mom Pam (Elizabeth Banks) is eager to shake things up and show their kids, teen son Dax (Caspar Jennings), and duckling daughter Gwen (Tresi Gazal), the whole wide world. After a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, Pam persuades Mack to embark on a family trip, via New York City, to tropical Jamaica. As the Mallards make their way South, their well-laid plans quickly go awry.
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Best Quotes
Mack: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful pond. It was paradise. Everyone was happy there. Well, not everyone. For two ducklings were suffering from a strange condition. They were bored.
Pam: The heron saw that they were lost, so she offered to help them.
Mack: Pam, it’s a heron. A psycho killer designed to eat ducklings.
Mack: Squished ducks, they can achieve great things too.
Pam: Every time you tell a story, Gwen wets her twig bed.
Mack: Does she? That’s great. See? That means she’s learning, Pam.
Pam: Oh, learning what? That she should never leave the pond?
Mack: Exactly. Trust me, I’m teaching her very valuable fears. I should know. I’ve lived with them my entire life.
Pam: So have we all.
Dax: What just happened?
Gwen: I don’t know. But you’re in trouble.
Gwen: [referring to Dax] He talked to a girl.
Mack: A girl?
Gwen: Yeah, and he told her he wants to marry her.
Dax: What?! I didn’t say that!
Gwen: You said it with your eyes.
Gwen: [to Dax as they watch Kim and her family fly off] I’m so sorry you can’t have babies with her.
Mack: Migration? What a stupid idea.
Pam: Okay. You’re impossible.
Mack: Why? Because I found a safe place for us to live and we’re happy here?
Pam: I want us to get out and see the world.
Dax: Me too, Dad.
Gwen: Yeah. I want to go to Jamai… Jam… J… Where they make jam.
Mack: You really want those things?
All: Yes.
Mack: What sort of father would I be if I put my young fowl in harm’s way for no reason, except a chance at a Caribbean vacation?
Pam: A father who knows it’s important for his kids to see other parts of the world.
Pam: Mack, I don’t want to miss out on life because you’re afraid to leave this pond. This isn’t about migration. It’s about adventure. Seeing what else life has to offer. Is that a little scary? Sure. But isn’t it worth it?
Mack: No, Pam. Not really.
'A chef. Like a predator except instead of eating you, he feeds you to a group of much lazier predators.' - Chump (Migration) Click To Tweet
Uncle Dan: Stick to your beliefs, kid. Don’t change for anyone.
Mack: Exactly.
Uncle Dan: And you’ll end up just like me. Happy.
Mack: Yeah.
Uncle Dan: Healthy.
Mack: Yeah.
Uncle Dan: And totally alone!
Mack: Yeah! Wait. What?
Uncle Dan: That’s right. You’ll be living the dream.
Mack: Come on. We got to get ready.
Pam: Mack, ready for what?
Mack: Nothing. Just, you know, for our big super fun family migration!
Pam: What?
Mack: Ha! Bet you didn’t see that coming.
Pam: Are you serious?
Mack: Yep. An adventure into the totally unknown. And I’m going to love it.
Pam: [to Mack] I knew there was some adventure left in you.
Mack: Here we go. Let’s do the final check. Tail feather torsion?
Pam: Check!
Mack: Wing deployment?
Gwen: Check!
Mack: Heads in takeoff mode?
Dax: Check.
Mack: Let’s fly.
Pam: Here we are together. We’re on an adventure. I promised adventure, and this is exactly what I promised, huh?
Uncle Dan: [as the family is huddled in a tree trunk for shelter] We’re not going to make it, are we?
Pam: Uncle Dan!
Uncle Dan: You can tell me. I don’t mind. I’m a big boy. I’m a big duck.
Mack: This is the kind of thing we’ll remember for years to come. We’ll look back and laugh.
Erin: In a rush, are you?
Mack: Oh, we don’t want to be a bother. You look busy decaying.
Uncle Dan: What do they do, rip you apart, then eat you?
Pam: Dan!
Uncle Dan: I don’t know how they do it. What’s the method?
Pam: Hey. Zip it.
Uncle Dan: Wake me up when it’s my turn to be eaten.
Mack: Can’t you see they want to eat us?
Gwen: I don’t want to be eaten!
Pam: [referring to Erin] Well, she can’t eat us. She doesn’t have teeth.
Mack: Well, what if she cuts us into pieces first?
Pam: [to Erin, referring to the frying pab] Hey, feel this. Even comfier than our own nest.
Mack: Yeah, sure. It’s greasier too. Oh! Looks like your last guest is still here. And dead.
Erin: Are you sure you have to go already? I’ll miss your kids so much. They are so adorable. And you taste so good. Maybe I’ll eat you. I’m kidding. Or am I?
Mack: Huh?
Gwen: What if something ate Uncle Dan?
Pam: Honey, I promise you, nothing would ever want to eat Uncle Dan.
Chump: “Trashy, trashy vermin.”
Mack: Let the record reflect I just meant to say “trashy vermin”. Which I’m not saying that’s good, but I wasn’t doubling down on “trashy”, vermin.
Mack: So listen, Chump.
Chump: What did you just call me?
Mack: Sorry. I thought your name was Chump.
Chump: Yeah. Chump. Yeah. That’s my name. Why?
Mack: Right. So listen, Chump.
Chump: What did you just call me?!
Mack: I’m sorry. Is everyone else hearing Chump or…?
Pam: [referring to Mack] Hi, there. I’m Pam. I’m sharing my life with him, so I’m painfully aware of all the stupid things that come out of his mouth.
Pam: We are completely lost. We’re trying to get to Jamaica.
Chump: Oh, yeah. Yeah. That’s in Queens, right?
Pam: More south. Like the Caribbean.
Chump: Oh, that Jamaica.
'When danger strikes, you do not run from it. You take a stand.' - Mack (Migration) Click To Tweet
Mack: Are you kidding? We are not flying through this crazy death trap of a city again.
Chump: Oh, come on. It’s nothing. Just stick close to me, and everything will be alright.
[suddenly gets hit by a bus]
Chump: [after getting hit by another bus] I’m okay. I’m still okay. We can do this. Ha. Ha. You missed, bus!
Chump: [after she gets hit by a scooter] Maybe you don’t stick too close.