Writer: Asha Gizelle M.

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs", "Charlotte’s Web" and "Tad-The Lost Explorer".

Reggie (Owen Wilson) is smart, funny and a social reject. Spotted by the extremely adorable President of America's daughter, Reggie goes home with her and wakes up to realize how much goodness there is to life besides just getting petrified about becoming the star of the menu on Thanksgiving Day. All is well until he meets the singular, driven and a little misguided, Jake (Woody Harrelson) who is on a die-hard mission to save turkeys from getting into ovens for Thanksgiving. Jenny (Amy Poehler) comes along as Reggie's (Owen Wilson) love interest and the adventure officially starts.

Opening with a tacky warning message about historical accuracy, it provokes some laughs from both the young and older audience. Originally titled as "Turkeys", "Free Birds" got its existing title in March this year. Owen Wilson, who has given us lots of 'bromance' themed movies with Ben Stiller has done it once again and is at his best, even while off-screen. Amy Poehler is no stranger to the league of A-list voice-overs and Woody Harrelson whom you will catch again in "Now You See Me 2", nailed it with his quirky voice for the know-it-all character Jake.

Adults who sit through the entire 90 minutes might have a couple of laughs at how ridiculously funny it can get when birds outsmart humans. The fur and feather supervisors have apparently worked at it for years to bring in such meticulous-looking characters. Although it was vibrant, alive and incredibly entertaining throughout the show, there are clutters that can lose your child's or evens your attention, somewhere in the middle. The plot is very thin and it doesn't require much explaining if you are accompanied by a younger member of the audience.

As it might resonate, even the title is an echo of the "Angry Birds" franchise. "Free Birds" is no doubt an entertaining jumble of themes, from Thanksgiving, to adventure-comedy to romance. Each and every character from those who have the tiniest airtime to almost the whole movie, are impeccably distinctive with their own charm.

When comparing "Charlotte's Web" to "Free Birds", although both have very similar plots, the latter is aptly for younger kids with a not-too-serious tone to it, whereas "Charlotte's Web" contained some tear-jerking moments.


Cinema Online, 28 October 2013