Review: The Mitchells Vs. The Machines

Ever since Sony Animation studios unleashed Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs back in 2009, they’ve always managed to bring something new to the animation table. But things changed when Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was unleashed back in 2018. It’s like a new bar was set and a new style was introduced to the unsuspecting public. Now with The Mitchells vs. the Machines which has now been released (Mainly due to the global pandemic) by Netflix.

It all starts when creative outsider Katie Mitchell is accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home and find “her people,” when her nature-loving dad insists on having the whole family drive her to school and bond during one last totally-not-awkward-or-forced road trip. But just when the trip can’t get any worse, the family suddenly finds itself in the middle of the robot uprising! Everything from smart phones, to roombas, to evil Furbys are employed to capture every human on the planet. Now it’s up to the Mitchells, including upbeat mom Linda, quirky little brother Aaron, their squishy pug, Monchi, and two friendly, but simple-minded robots to save humanity.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller have once again knocked it out of the park with a witty, laugh out loud funny, exciting and all round amazing movie. The humour is set at the perfect tone that really taps into the digital age and our dependency on phones, tablets and all technology. The voice cast is great, led by Danny McBride, Olivia Colman & Abbi Jacobson as the warring father (McBride) and daughter Jacobson) combo who take on the robot onslaught and the phone AI overlord (Colman), it also manages to be touching and emotional without ever being over the top or to saccharine sweet to bear.

The laugh out loud moments and there are many of them are punctuated with some brilliant action set pieces and aided by some absolutely sublime animation that we first saw with Into The Spider-Verse. In fact the animation really allows the story to explode from the screen and willingly draws you into the story and you will love it for doing so.

A joyous family affair that will make you laugh. cry and cheer in equal amounts The Mitchells vs. the Machines really has something for everyone from young to old. Whether it’s a realistic home truth, via some really funny moments or just pizzazz of the animation and action combined, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend yours and your families time, sometime soon.