MOVIE REVIEW: THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE

Angry Birds

Director:
Clay Kaytis & Fregal Reilly

Cast
Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride

Here’s another entry in the “can we actually make a movie based on this video game” contest, quickly following on the heels of “Ratchet and Clank”. I’m not a gamer, but I’ve played Angry Birds, mainly because it was so popular it was almost unavoidable. That being said, it’s been a few years since I’ve launched anything via slingshot, so I wasn’t really sure on what story structure this movie world be built on.

Jason Sudeikis voices Red, a bird who has some anger issues. His flips out one day at his job and is sent to anger management classes.There he meets a speedy bird named Chuck (voiced by Josh Gad) and a exploding bird, aptly named Bomb (voiced by Danny McBride). When the birds’ island get visited by some incredibly nice green pigs, all the birds love these new friends, all except for Red who doesn’t trust these pigs at all. His caution may be justified. Eventually this all leads to a third act in which we get some of the infamous game action that everyone is familiar with.

So I can tell you that the animation is beautiful and very detailed, but is there a story actually built around this game play? Yes, as thin as it is, there’s still a story. One way to save a simple story like this is to have interesting characters, and luckily we do have a couple here. Jason Sudeikis’ dry humor mixed with Josh Gad’s hyper excitement is put to good use here.

This is very much reminded me of a “not as funny” version of the “Shrek” movies, really goofy for kids, but with some lines for adults sprinkled throughout (“pluck my life” was a favorite of mine). There is a section in the middle of the movie where the story really drags along, but I do believe, as a whole, families will get enjoyment from it.
Special shout out for the soundtrack, especially because they dropped KRS-One “Da Sound of the Police”.

Grade: 2.5 out of 5

-Markellus