benjaminweber
This is a good film. It sets out to be a funny animated film about time-travelling turkeys, and it succeeds. The animation is mostly good (the photorealistic pizza looks a little jarring in a world of cartoonish characters), the voice acting is superb and the jokes are funny. The plot is interesting, however slightly predictable at times. Then again, it isn't trying to be the next Citizen Kane or Charade.It's a fun, well-made film that everyone can enjoy, a solid 8/10
neighborlee-74314
It's too bad that some reviewing this splendidly made and acted movie, seem to either have no sense of humor, or void of it only , when its about animal rights issues or so it seems. Movie reviewing is about objectivity, and if none can be given, none should be offered. Thats only fair to the medium.It shouldn't matter, whatever the presumed 'goal' is in a movie, if its done with humor and accuracy and style, regardless, it should be judged solely on that, leaving politics out of it,- but since that was brought up, as someone whose diet resembles this movie on some grounds, was delighted to see such a topic presented in such high class with clever reference to historical data.ONe can only hope as a species, we advance as we learn about our surroundings, comically and otherwise , as the protagonists in this movie do. Without creating spoilers, the irony is stark in this one . Some say this was void of any plot, not that it needed to be deep given the storyline which doesn't need to be necessarily deep to convey meaning in this case, but simple or not, the writing is clever and the use of acting voices to convey parallels to other movies was very clever and well done. Some of the deepest irony in this was the dialogue about one choice over another, and when you hear it, you'll smile and realize the movie has more depth and candidness than you might have been expecting, and given a history many of us never know or may learn of, the character swap couldn't have been more acute and appropriate . Near the end, you will fully realize this ( likely before), and it will make you smile and given some of us a sense of justice next to sadness . This PG movie does not insist on that, because while it does have historical reference as noted earlier, it does it in a lighthearted as possible way for the entire family. Laughter matters even discussing important topics, and this does not disappoint.Birds become the twice removed ( think history) through clever use of anthropomorphism , making a point yet retaining smiles from the audience as well as humility.The movie has hilarious in context, and I didn't have to push myself, to laugh, so the comments about it not being funny, are absurd and made up facts at their worst. I"m not kidding, I laughed right off, not even a minute or two into the movie, so those saying otherwise must have judged the movie on other fronts, because it was funny and tons of people have already said as much. Different views notwithstanding most would find this hilarious in conjunction with more serious topics this movie explored.The stereotypes were rampant in this, which made it all the more funny, with yes, clear underlying tones of indicators as to why our food supply ideas and beliefs should be re-thought out. I'ts not a 'heavy hit' tone, but it's clearly there and appropriate. We grow as a specie as we evaluate our past and learn and elevate ourselves as a result; there is nothing ever wrong with appropriate introspection.THe movie is so funny though even through the stark imagery and notes to history, that after while that dissipates and you just laugh out loud even though hidden beneath the surface that kids likely will not get and prob. best, is a tempest in a teapot of a story that needs to be told; it was done in style, lightly enough for mostly a children's story but with enough historical reference to give adults pause of the history they are part of.I want to reiterate, that the movie made its points , clearly and efficiently, without hitting the subject too hard because laughter is good for all of us and sometimes it makes history easier to grasp and more desirable as well.Easily a 10, a must see for the entire family, noting the PG rating of course.
Python Hyena
Free Birds (2013): Dir: Jimmy Hayward / Voices: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, George Takei, Dan Fogler: An unusual animation about the victims of every Thanksgiving dinner. Reggie is a young turkey who learns of the reality of Thanksgiving but is spared when the U.S. President allows his daughter to take Reggie as a pet. Central plot regards Reggie kidnapped from his comfortable life by macho turkey Jake who knows of a time machine on a military base that can transport them back in time to clear turkeys off the menu. They transport to the eve of the first Thanksgiving in 1621 where turkeys are hunted daily. Reggie and Jake end up within a large flock of turkeys bent on staying one step ahead of the hunters. This becomes extremely ridiculous once the turkeys go to war with the pilgrims. Even the whole time machine seems like a bad third grade write-in yet the screenplay is detailed and features a solution that many may find more appetizing than the birds themselves. Directed by Jimmy Hayward who has fun with the traditional aspects of the holiday. Owen Wilson voices Reggie whose desire is to survive and fit in. Woody Harrelson brings much humour to the gusto of Jake whose desire is not to fail. Amy Poehler voices Jenny who is female counter to Reggie but she figures into the story in the unconventional way beyond just having a female presence. Other roles are as lively as turkey feathers and are more or less standard issue. Directed by Jimmy Hayward who made Horton Hears a Who, and features the freedom of family and unity. Score: 8 ½ / 10
classicsoncall
So I just watched two time travel movies back to back, the other one was "Timecop". Hard to say which one made less sense but this one was somewhat entertaining. At least my five year old granddaughter thought so by paying attention throughout the whole story. Things got a bit carried away near the end when you had four Reggies show up all at once - in "Timecop" they would have all exploded or some such thing, on the basis that the same entity couldn't occupy more than one physical location at any given point in time. On the flip side, that might have been a good reason to have Thanksgiving dinner early. No need to get too carried away here. You've got a fun story that's got plenty of humor, and to the discredit of all the PETA folks, it probably won't turn your kid into a vegetarian.
