Angry Birds *** (2016, voices of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride) – Movie Review

Jason Sudeikis voices Red, a bird with a bad temper problem, who is sent to an anger management class after shoving the pie he’s supposed to be delivering to a birthday party in someone’s face. Yep, that’s a good start for Angry Birds, along with its fun-promising title!

Thereafter angry Red ends up with speedy Chuck (Josh Gad) and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) on an island paradise populated by happy, flightless birds – except for Mighty Eagle (voice of Peter Dinklage), who can fly, if he wants to [plot point!].

In any story, of course, paradise has to be lost before it is regained, and that’s exactly what happens when the island is visited by mysterious green pigs arriving by boat. There appear to be just two or three of them, but Red, angry that they have crushed his idyllic home, susses out that there are more where that came from – a full-scale green pig invasion is on the cards.

Directors Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly’s 3D animated comedy is a pleasing time-passer, no more, no less. The characters are amusing enough, the movie is colourful and quirky enough, and there are enough little and large laughs, though it’s a bit lame that the biggest laugh comes when Mighty Eagle pees endlessly and when a bird does its droppings from a tree and pretends its his melting ice cream. However, the kids around me at the screening just loved these gags! They would, wouldn’t they?

TV veteran Jon Vitti is used to making people laugh and has the screenplays of The Simpsons Movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel to his credit. Fair enough, but I seriously need to ask him:

(1) why the birds (except one) can’t fly – it’s been bothering me for several days now.

(2) if they can’t fly, why make a film about birds?

(3) and why do they have animated arms?

(4) and why are they angry, anyway?

(5) why the pigs are green, and why pigs anyway?

and (6) how did the pigs know about the stash of bird eggs on the island that they have come to steal?

Angry Birds is the first movie based on a smartphone game, which has been downloaded an incredible billion times on mobile devices since it was released in 2009. What does it take to dream up a story about an epic battle of flightless birds versus green pigs? I’d like some inspiration like that. I know, I know, let it go.

The voice cast is supposed to be an all-star cast that also includes Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Kate McKinnon, Keegan-Michael Key, Tony Hale, Tituss Burges and Ike Barinholtz. The film also features YouTube duo Smosh (Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox). Give yourself points if you’ve heard of any of them, one point for each one you’ve heard of, and an extra point for a film they have appeared in. Can you get up to 20 points, there?

Nevertheless, their voices are characterful and effective, and this easy-going, good-natured movie is very slick and seamless, so parents should find plenty to amuse them while their kids are engaged and laughing. Is the inevitable sequel going to feature angry pigs that fly and green birds? Watch this space!

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

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