The Mitchells vs the Machines

written and directed by: Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe

Rating: ⭐ better than a psl

Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) has always felt like an outcast, but when she gets into a film school for college she’s excited because she’s finally found her people. Her father (Danny McBride) is sad that he and Katie don’t really connect anymore, so he cancels her flight to college and plans one last road trip for family bonding. But along the way a robot apocalypse starts and the fate of humanity now depends on the Mitchells.

I seriously loved this movie so much. The themes are universal and I think audiences young and old will appreciate and relate to the story of a parent being afraid of their child slipping away, and a teenager’s need for independence and pursuing their own dreams. The movie does a great job of incorporating a pretty serious theme, but still making it lighthearted enough to entertain younger audiences. The animation style in this movie is really fun and adds to the film’s offbeat humor. You feel like you’re in a YouTube viral video at moments, which totally plays with the tech elements in the film. This is one of 2021’s best movies and it’s a must watch with or without kids!

Review written by Zianna Weston