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Find out why the birds are so angry. When an island populated by happy, flightless birds is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to three unlikely outcasts – Red, Chuck and Bomb – to figure out what the pigs are up to.
The Angry Birds app launched into success and triggered millions of obsessive downloads in 2009, making it one of the most successful apps of all time. Since then, other apps have been created and Angry Birds has slowed down in its popularity but it still exists and it’s still just as fun to play. Now, finally, the game has transformed into a film. But as I’m surrounded by feetswinging kids in the theater, I can’t help but wonder, will any of them know it from the app?
The film carries a star-studded cast with familiar voices and new ones as well, some of the most memorable being Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Keegan-Michael Key and Peter Dinklage. The story follows the main character “Red” as he launches into an anger management session, comes face to face with his enemies and must decide how he will save his village. The movie shines with really memorable characters as well, and I can only imagine the wipe out in the “angry birds” toy section in stores after the release of the film.
The app and the film are represented by Rovio Entertainment, which is a new one in the animation field, but their animation looks beautiful, every detailed accounted for and characters so realistic you feel like you could pet them.
With only an app, a few green pigs and angry birds to work with, the film attempted to create an entire world in which to tell the tale of the slingshot and why the birds launch themselves into pig territory. However, the plot felt a bit thin, like it was being slung into the air with no real direction or aim of where it was going. The adventure through the whizzing air is fun, spectacular, and beautiful, we just don’t know where we’re gonna end up! For a kid, there’s no problem in this, but for the Angry Birds fans, like myself, who are probably a bit older, I had hoped for a stronger foundational plot for such a popular world full of potential.
Something the creators did plan for, however, was their target audience. They knew those who downloaded the app 7 years ago would be seeing the film, so the target works well with an older audience while still applying to the kids and making it fun for everyone.
So before you sling yourself to a new movie this summer, if you want a good laugh and an entertaining ride, you may consider giving Angry Birds a chance. The dialogue, animation, and characters themselves are enjoyable, relatable, and outright hysterical. They make the film worth seeing, and I can guarantee that you’ll find a good laugh in it. It’s thrilling and terrifying to experience being slung into the air with the birds, and almost feels like a roller coaster. Seeing the slingshot and the characters from the app brought a smile on my face, and brought me back to the app store to redownload it and see if it’s still good. It is.
Angry Birds is worth the ride. Even if you don’t know where you’re going, sometimes it’s just fun to take a leap and see where you’ll end up. That’s kind of like life, isn’t it? If not for the characters, witty jokes and animation alone, Angry Birds is worth a shot, and worth your ticket.
In theaters May 20th
