The Angry Birds Movie 2 Parent Guide

The birds of Bird Island and the pigs of Piggy Island are sworn enemies who spend their days playing pranks on each other. But their cartoon antics come to a halt when the pigs discover a third island, which is being overtaken by ice. Led by Zeta (voiced by Leslie Jones), the eagles who inhabit the frozen rock are yearning for warmer climes. Instead of planning winter cruises to the tropics, Zeta sets in motion her plans to conquer Bird and Piggy Islands by lobbing frozen ice balls at them. Nothing unites enemies like a common peril, so the pigs call a truce with the birds and they band together to defeat the eagles.

The plot sounds way more serious than the film – which is saying a lot. The Angry Birds 2 is full of silly birds acting like eight year old boys – including potty jokes and goofy pranks. But this approach certainly seems to pay off in terms of audience satisfaction. My own eight year old thoroughly enjoyed the movie, as did the other kids in the theater.

Parents will note that this film manages to include some positive messages amid the animated high jinks. The most pointed message in the movie revolves around Red (voiced by Jason Sudeikis), who has a compulsive need to be the hero, which repeatedly leads him to make bad choices that impair the birds’ ability to save the islands. But the plot does a good job of demonstrating how his deep-seated fear of being alone leads to his counter-productive behavior (which may lead to some useful introspection on the part of young viewers). In addition, The Angry Birds 2 delivers a positive message about overcoming differences and moving on for the benefit of others. Teamwork, communication, and courage are needed for these former enemies to work together to save both of their homes.

Fortunately, these messages are delivered without too much negative content. There are some “butt” jokes and there’s minor slapstick cartoon violence. The explosions and moments of peril may scare young children, but this movie is safe for most older elementary school kids. Parents who object to the video game tie-in and the implicit marketing that underlies the film will likely find this the most off-putting aspect of the production.

The Angry Birds 2 isn’t a film that adults will seek out for their own amusement. But it does have some compensations. There are jokes the kids won’t get and the bouncy, nostalgic soundtrack is aimed straight at the adults in the audience – Eye of the Tiger, All by Myself, Holding Out for a Hero, Happy Together. Adults will also appreciate the stellar voice cast, who manage to imbue the characters with distinct, vivid personalities. This film isn’t the worst way to spend 96 minutes in a theater with children.

The Angry Birds 2 may not be Oscar bait, but it’s a harmless, fluffy piece of kids’ cinema. It might not soar, but at least it doesn’t crash.