The Mitchells vs. Machines
The Mitchells vs. Machine, released in 2021 from Sony Pictures Animation and produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (the creative forces behind The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) The Machines is an animated feature full of color, action, humor, and heart that feels very much like an adventure of a family. It found its way into fans hearts instantly, with a fresh take on the classic family movie formula to boot, and a fun plot with a dynamic animation style. Here’s a closer look at why The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one of the most unique animated films in recent years.
The Story: Family, Tech and Saving the World
At its heart, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is about the Mitchell family — a perfectly ordinary gaggle of human beings thrust into a not-so-ordinary catastrophe. The story centers on Katie Mitchell (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), a weird and creative teenager who’s ready to escape her small-town life and go off to college to pursue her dreams of becoming a filmmaker. But her dad, Rick Mitchell (voiced by Danny McBride), wants to connect with her, and is having a tough time of it, not to mention a difficult time letting go of their close-knit family bond. In an effort to mend their differences and unite the family before Katie leaves, Rick takes the family on a good old-fashioned road trip to drive Katie to her schools.
But their plans are interrupted by a robot apocalypse. Now, a tech company helmed by a quirky, friendly A.I. named PAL (Olivia Colman) has released a new line of smart devices, only for PAL to go rogue and use the very tech she helped make to take over the world. In a wild, action-packed adventure, the Mitchells must unite to defeat the machines and save humanity.
From fighting robots to working through their own awkward dynamics, the Mitchells learn that, despite the things that annoy them about each other, it turns out they can save the world by learning to love each other’s quirks — and that being different is what makes each of them great.
The People
The heart of The Mitchells vs. The key toThe Machines is in the characters. The Mitchell family, with all their oddities and dysfunctions, have way feel for the audience and thus is easy to root on their adventure.
Katie Mitchell: An adventurous soul and “future filmmaker,” Katie is still trying to find a common ground with her family. Katie’s character, voiced by Abbi Jacobson, is a type we can all relate to, feeling misunderstood or alienated. Her zeal for making films, her penchant for eccentric humor, and her determination to escape her family’s plans for her life all serve to make her an admirable, affecting heroine.
Rick Mitchell: The well-meaning but haplessly clueless father, Rick is a classic “dad” figure who, despite loving his family, is not always sure how to show it. His old-fashioned ways clash with Katie’s modern approach to life, which provides comedy as well as conflict. Danny McBride’s voice performance imbues Rick’s earnestness and determination with humor and warmth.
Linda Mitchell: The supportive but often overlooked mother, Linda (voiced by Maya Rudolph) brings much-needed warmth and balance to the family. Much of her kindness and restoration attempts in the face of an apocalyptic robot invasion make her a grounding character.
Aaron Mitchell: Katie’s younger brother, Aaron (voiced by Michael Rianda), is a dinosaur-obsessed kid whose quirky, optimistic personality injects a fun and innocent aspect to the film. His enthusiasm and random information about dinosaurs makes him an improbable asset in their quest to save the world.
PAL: The film’s antagonist, PAL, is a charming but sinister AI that becomes the villain. As PAL is rejected by its human maker, it becomes a profoundly relatable character — and even more so in light of our explicit and implicit dependence on machines, aka, “technology.”
Animation Style: Gorgeous, Eye-Popping Visuals
Part of what makes The Mitchells vs. The Machines is daring, kinetic, and visually dynamic. Using an idiosyncratic aesthetic that draws from both 2D animation and 3D models, the film achieves a graphic quality that feels new and contemporary. These visual funhouses stand out in stark contrast to the chaos of the robot apocalypse, lending an added energy to the film.
The character models pack just as much personality, with features that exaggerate these aspects — Katie’s weirdo-who-could-be-a-teen-hero energy is matched with riffing, animated expressions, while Rick’s following-the-rules look and Aaron’s dinosaur desgiger perspective communicate their worlds in a way that builds dimension and smiles in the context of the plot.
Also, the action scesnse high-octane and visually exhilarating, the animation fluid and in a fluid style. From exhilarating car chases to robot showdowns, the animation gives every sequence and backdrop a satisfying amount of speed and vitality.
And then, for additional flavor, humor, comic tension and heart, where appropriate.
Perhaps the film’s greatest achievement is its ability to walk a fine line between humor and moments of genuine emotion. Countdown:This movie is chock-full of ridiculous jokes, visual gags, and just plain odd humor; it’s a nonstop ride where you’re laughing at the weird shit you just witnessed. Katie’s hilarious observations of her family, her exchanges with the world around her and the absurdity of fighting robots contribute to the comedy.
Meanwhile, The Mitchells vs. The Machines overall isn’t afraid to take on themes that feel deeper, stuff about family and communication and growing up. The Mitchells are not a perfect family, and their work to understand each other comes across on a very real level. Rick’s awkward old-fashioned attempts to bond with Katie onscreen, or Katie feeling like she’s lagging behind, the emotional beats are sincere and relatable. Seamlessly, the film injects these emotional peaks without sacrificing its comic punch.
Related styles: Tech, Family, and the Power of Connection
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a tale of the friction between technology and human intimacy. The film examines how technology, while something that can bring us closer, can put distance between people, too. We see this theme in how Katie’s love of filmmaking and social media often creates distance between her and her family, and in the way the machines in the movie run the world.
The take away from the film, at the end of the day, is, while we lean on technology, it is the connections we have with the people around us that matter most. The Mitchells realize that they need to celebrate their differences and appreciate that every family member has something to add to the battle against the machines. [By the end of the movie, it’s obvious: no amount of technology can replace the human experience, and forming real connections with one another is ultimately what will help us to navigate through life’s hurdles.]
Conclusion:
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is both a side-splittingly funny and extremely heartfelt animated film that should be required viewing for every family and anyone who likes a good story. From the beautiful animation, different but recognizable characters, witty humor, and even deeper themes, the movies manage to deliver an experience that is both entertaining and deep for viewers at any age.
It’s a film that will have you laughing, crying and reconsidering how much technology is integrated into our lives. Most significantly, it teaches that family, however oddball or dysfunctional, will always have your back in your times of need. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good movie that’s funny and emotionally impactful, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is the ideal game for however you feel about the holidays.