Migration Parent Guide

Roots or wings? All parents struggle with finding the right balance between security and independence for their kids, but for Mack, this is an existential question.

Mack (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani) is the anxious and cautious father of a family of ducks. He tries to convince mama duck, Pam (Elizabeth Banks), and their two children, Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal) to remain in their safe, comfortable little pond instead of following a flock of ducks who are migrating to warmer climes.

It turns out that Mack and Pam have different life goals: Mack wants to remain in his pleasant surroundings and Pam wants to explore and experience more of the world. Pam has an ace in her wing: Mack’s grumpy Uncle Dan (Danny DeVito), who’s a bit of a wreck and a confirmed homebody. Mack doesn’t want to end up like Uncle Dan. Add to this fear the pressure being put upon Mack by his children and he finally capitulates and agrees to leave home. Astonishingly, even Uncle Dan comes along.

And so the adventure begins!

The duck family fly off into the great beyond, full of hope and optimism, only to see flocks of birds flying in the opposite direction. The little family is sure they’re headed the right way, so they keep going, only to fly straight into a heavy rainstorm. While sheltering under a dock, they are confronted by an eccentric heron named Erin (brilliantly voiced by Carol Kane). Since herons have been known to eat ducklings, Mack and Pam are reluctant to trust her offer of hospitality – but this is just the beginning of their mind-broadening experiences.

The family go on to meet Chump (Awkwafina), the leader of a gang of tough pigeons in New York City; Delroy (Keegan-Michael Key), a caged and homesick Jamaican parrot; and GooGoo (David Mitchell), the leader of a yogic chicken compound. All of these new friends aid the ducks along their way, doing their best to protect them from the elements (and the city!) and from the nefarious intentions of a crazed chef intent on making them into his next culinary creation.

Parents will be pleased to note that the duck family experiences many opportunities to learn and grow and to broaden their perspectives. All five of them gain a deeper understanding of trust, courage, determination, acceptance, and love. These are sweet messages and are completely appropriate for family audiences. It should also be noted that Migration includes many adventures, dangers, and perils for the ducks which might be a bit intense for the youngest of viewers, but do make for a fast-paced exciting story.

I happened to go to a 3D showing of Migration and I’m glad I did. The stunning landscapes and the vibrant action scenes made the extra few dollars for my 3D ticket worth it. Add to that the lovely soundtrack, the well-paced and original story, the comedy and the adventure, and the beautiful life lessons in Migration, and you have a no-regrets family movie that everyone can appreciate.