What if technology is fed up with us? What if the biggest tech company in the world made a machine capable of destroying humanity? It’s an idea that’s been explored many a time in modern cinema, but certainly hasn’t been executed so creatively (or hilariously) as in “The Mitchells v the Machines”.

The Story

Katie Mitchell is finally off to film school, leaving behind her family to a world of people who finally understand her. But, as an attempt to apologize for not believing in her, her father decides to take the whole family for a last minute, week-long, road trip to her University, so they can hang out one last time. A hesitant Katie agrees, and they’re off. Meanwhile, a large tech company, Pal Studios, is launching an all new product, a phone with arms and legs, a robot that can help you with whatever you want. The young, millennial CEO of Pal leaves behind his old PAL AI friend in the trash to pursue this money making scheme.  The PAL, feeling betrayed, takes over the robots and promises to destroy all of mankind. Will the Mitchells be able to survive in the robot apocalypse?

What Makes this movie so good?

This movie is hilarious, the sense of humor Katie has throughout the movie is very 2012 -esque and is kind of a blast from the past, but her clothes and overall  personality resembles that of a modern day, relatable teen. The rest of the family, Rick Mitchell, an outdoorsy awkward dad, Linda Mitchell, a less than perfect, Instagram mom and Aaron Mitchell, a big time dinosaur fan, all have lovely charm that makes the family seem realistic.

This movie is all too relatable, with things like, people on Instagram seeming all too perfect, people being obsessed with technology, and a very honest look on dogs, (seriously, it was like they casted my dog in the film) making it hit close to home. 

The movie’s overall look and style reminds me of the early days of the internet, from the emphasis on pizza, to random green screen videos being a homage to the random humor phase that we all went through. Although the depiction of technology obsession was a bit corny, this was one of the best animated movies to come out so far.