Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you like animation.
Score: 3.25/5
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 89 minutes (~1.5 hours)
“Storks” is a 3D animated adventure comedy about a stork and a human who live in a world where storks work for Amazon a global delivery company. They have to deliver one last baby without letting anyone find out. It features the voice talents of Andy Samberg (Junior), Katie Crown (Tulip), Kelsey Grammar (Hunter), Keegan-Michael Kay (Alpha Wolf), Jordan Peele (Beta Wolf), Anton Starkman (Nate Gardner), Jennifer Aniston (Sarah Gardner), Ty Burrell (Henry Gardner), Stephen Kramer Glickman (Pigeon Toady), and Danny Trejo (Jasper). It is rated PG.
“Storks” is super adorable and it’s one of the most interesting premises for an animated film this year. While it never really goes into **how** babies are made, it makes up for that by having a subplot about a lonely boy who wishes for a sibling. It’s not the insufferable, saccharine sort of cute, but rather, the playful, endearing type of cute. Plus, it’s a fast-paced, short movie. It’s perfect for kids (and adults who are like kids, ergo, me).
Highlights
A tale of lost glory
While the story is ostensibly just about Junior trying to prevent his future promotion to boss from being jeopardised, you know from the get go that Junior’s quest is actually for the fate of all storks. “Storks” never spells it out as such, because who would identify with a protagonist with such lofty goals? Instead, Junior learns that his desire isn’t quite what he made it out to be, and ends up with a much greater accomplishment in the end.
Cute wolves
The Lego wolves (so named by me because they can transform into any vehicle) are bundles of creative, dauntless fur. They pursue their quarry with a single-mindedness that might be horrifying if not for the fact that their motivation is based on cuteness. A spin-off about the wolves would be far more desirable than any more “Minions” spinoffs.
Fast-paced story
Although my viewing partner was a bit dismayed at the speed of the plot (“it’s like this was made for ADHD kids,” she said), its high energy is what keeps you invested in the fate of the heroes. It’s not tension that keeps you glued to the show, but humour and rapid twists of the plot, so it doesn’t exhaust you by the film’s end. Again, it’s a great first movie for children (who have probably never spent so much time sitting still before).
Letdowns
Junior and Tulip’s relationship has some very strange implications
Junior (Andy Samberg) is a stork. Tulip (Katie Crown) is a human. They’re ferrying a baby. Several times, the film alludes to them being a family. And there are traces of a romantic vibe between Junior and Tulip. But this being a film about babies (and hence reproduction), you can’t help but think about what this inter-species romance might lead to. So “Storks” pulls back before anything can develop, leaving their relationship ambiguous. It’s like they couldn’t make up their minds about the situation between Junior and Tulip, so the film ping pongs between different interpretations.
Where did Nate come from?
Nate is about 10 years old. The storks have not delivered babies for 18 years now. So where did Nate come from? Definitely not the storks, since he writes to them to request for a brother. If Nate is so resourceful, why doesn’t he go to the same place he came from to get a new brother? How has the human race reproduced all these years if the storks stopped delivering? Why is it important that the storks start delivering babies again if there are alternate methods of reproduction? It’s a big gap that needs to be addressed.
“Storks” has a good balance of pacing, humour, and cuteness. Just don’t think too much about its logic.
“Storks” opens in cinemas:
– 22 September, 2016 (Singapore)
– 22 September, 2016 (Malaysia)
– 22 September, 2016 (Philippines)
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