Title – The Mitchells vs the Machines (2021)

Director – Michael Rianda (feature debut) & Jeff Rowe (feature debut)

Cast – (voices of) Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Eric Andre, Olivia Coleman

Plot – Everyday dysfunctional family the Mitchell’s may just be humanities last hope as a collection of AI infused machines threaten to take over the world.

“I am Linda Mitchell, mother of two. Look upon me in fear!”

Review by Eddie on 17/05/2021

Directed by debut feature length filmmakers Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe and overseen by the animation geniuses that are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie and Into the Spider-Verse fame), Netflix’s latest family offering The Mitchells vs the Machines is a huge win for the streaming company and Sony’s animation studio with this memorable offering likely to be one of 2021’s premier animated outings.

Filled with a vibrancy, energy and winning mix of heart and humor that only few animated films can dare dream of conjuring up, Machines is an abundantly joyous affair that may have a familiar finding ones-self message and odd-ball family dynamics at its core that are prevalent in everything from Toy Story to The Incredibles but Rianda and Rowe ensure everything here feels fresh and new with Machine’s barely pausing for a breath across its near two hour running time.

Following the Mitchell’s, with dorky dad Rick, loving mum Linda, dinosaur loving young boy Aaron and the films movie obsessed lead Katie taking center stage as the world finds itself battling an A.I uprising courtesy of some new smart phone technology that has gotten too smart for its own good, this a film filled to the brim with unique and colorful animation and is a feast for the senses in that regard but its also a film filled with frequent smart humor and great set-pieces, meaning viewers of all ages will find something to enjoy here throughout the entirety of the films length.

Helping things out along the way is the great collection of voice actors the film managed to get together to bring the Mitchell family too life with Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson and co-director Michael Rianda all bringing their characters to life with enthusiastic and energy filled voice performances while Olivia Coleman, Eric Andre and scene stealer Doug the Pug likely to steal viewers hearts and memories with some great little turns in limited screen time.

With so much going on and a laugh a minute mandate, Machines still manages to find time for significant moments of heart and emotion and balancing things out in a great fashion, don’t be surprised if this memorable animated outing hits you right in the feels when you least expect it but at the end of the day, this is just a joyous adventure that further establishes the animation genre as one of the most constantly enjoyable operating today.

Final Say – 

While there are many familiar parts to The Mitchell’s vs the Machines, this Netflix animated adventure is a joy to behold and will have you laughing and potentially tearing up across its joyous journey.

4 dog kisses out of 5