Review of 'Storks'

storks.jpg The storks have stopped delivering babies due to an unfortunate series of events causes causes them to fail to deliver a child - Tulip (voiced by Katie Crown). Failing in this critical role the storks now deliver packages as part of “Cornerstore.com” where Junior (voiced by Andy Samberg) is an ambitious stork seeking to take over control of the company when his boss, Hunter (voiced by Kelsey Grammer), retires. The overly enthusiastic inventor Tulip causes an accident that raises the ire of Hunter so she is put in charge of the neglected letter department where baby requests were previously received.

Nate Gardner (voiced by Anton Starkman) is an only child who yearns for a baby brother so writes to the storks after finding a brochure in the attic. When Tulip receives the letter she puts into motion the old baby-creating machinery to create a baby. To hide this from his boss and hopefully secure his promotion, Junior sets out to deliver the child however when he damages his wing he is forced to accept Tulip's offer of help and her plane. As they set out a large, sinister and mysterious form pursues them…

This is a very fun film and unlike previous animated pictures (yes I am talking about you The Secret Life of Pets) has more going for it than simply what you see in the trailer. In Storks the world is completely realised and the story goes in places that are not always anticipated. I found the wolves in a pack that form themselves into objects like a submarine or (unsuccessfully) an airplane particularly amusing. There is also the boss Hunter who does sadistic things with innocent-looking small red birds (for example, using them as golf balls). It is all in good fun despite the somewhat hackneyed and saccharine premise. The effects are very well done and imaginative to the extreme.

There is something here for both the young and old with jokes aimed squarely at both. The story does drag a bit about 3/4 of the way through the film but picks up at the end with a somewhat predictable finale.

Somewhat refreshing from recent animation disappointments, Storks is well worth a watch.

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2017-03-23


Directed by: Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland

Studio: RatPac-Dune Entertainment

Year: 2016

Length: 87 minutes

Genre: Animation

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4624424/