DVD Corner

Migration 4K UHD Review

There’s not much to “Migration.”  

Mack and Pam Mallard and their 2 children Dax and Gwen have been living in the same location for years, but when they encounter a flock bound for Jamaica, the Mallard family decides to migrate for the winter (along with Uncle Dan). Alas, their big trip doesn’t quite go as planned as they go the wrong direction and encounter dangers such as a catfish, an unsettling duck farm, and an angry chef. Luckily, they meet a few friendly allies along the way that just may help them get to where they need to be. 

Given that “Migration” is directed by Benjamin Renner (“Ernest And Celestine”) and written by Mike White (“The White Lotus”), one would expect this Illumination CG animated film to be a high caliber release. It’s not. In fact, there is very little to this story about stepping outside of your comfort zone and exploring. 

Rather than breaking new ground or indeed taking viewers on a real immersive duck migration journey, the entire movie feels like a series of generic slapped together set pieces with standard comedic shenanigans that you come to expect from Illumination releases. There’s not enough depth to the story or characters to hold your interest and the entire movie reminds you of other superior movies (there’s a fair amount of wannabe Aardman Animation elements here). By the time the credits roll you’ll be left thinking “That’s it?” 

The saving grace here is the animation work which is nothing short of excellent. Every little character detail, every gorgeous backdrop, and every setting is beautifully animated. Even when there’s nothing going on under the surface, you can at least admire the visuals.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? Say what you will about the movie itself, but the 4K is breathtaking. The tree colors, bird feathers, the blue skies all look stunning.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? This track soars (pun intended).

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* 3 mini-movies (AKA animated shorts) titled “Fly Hard,” “Mooned” (which features Minions), and “Midnight Mission” (another Minion short).
* “How To Draw” and “Build Your Own Pop-Up Book”
* “Microphone Madness”- A behind-the-scenes look at the cast doing voice recordings.
* “Meet The Cast”- Cast members Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Carol Kane and Caspar Jennings chat about the characters they play.
* “Taking Flight: The Making Of” featurette
* “The Art Of Flight” (a look at the various stages of animation) and “The Sound Of Flight” (about the score).
* “Calling All Birds” covers how to make bird noises with crafts titled “The Mack Quack,” “The Heron Honk,” and “The Chump Chirp.”
* “Best Nests”- How to make Nests and a Water Feeder

February 27, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | animation, Ducks, Illumination, Migration 4K UHD Review, Mike White