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Manpriya Singh
Whoever thought animated films are not serious business. There are the good guys, the bad guys, nuclear weapons and world that needs saving (in this case it’s the bird island and the pig island). Rather than the Angry Birds 1, which build on the background of adorable Red (as in why he is always angry and how he became a hero) this one, pardon the comparison, takes us straight to the likes of Avengers or Mission Impossible.
Only it’s a little more believable with the secret agent meetings, plans to enter enemy’s territory undetected (in this case icy Eagle’s Island), then deactivate the nuclear weapon and come out unhurt. Believable, because nobody is out to make you believe it. Funny because there is nothing else that describes the feathered bunch comprising Red, Chuck (the speed demon), Bomb (the explosives expert), Silver (Chuck’s smart sister and engineering wizard studying at Avian Academy), Hoof (master of gadgetry who has a gadget lab where everything is tested on his guinea pigs, like the literal guinea pigs.)
The first few minutes take their own sweet time in building up the life of these birds, aerial views of the islands, the chemistry between birds and pigs. But once the strange icy objects (read weapons) start falling from nowhere, you know there’ll be melodrama and amusement to follow. Just the perfect storyline for cartoonist Thurop Van Orman to show some spark as a debutant director.
The birds and the pigs all come together (just like Avengers) leaving their differences aside but not the punch lines meant to put down each other.
In their endeavour to save the bird kind, the super believable hero Red has shades of grey, you see he doesn’t want absolute peace on the island lest he is unwanted, un-applauded and unloved and yes, in the same order. Unlike James Bond, he doesn’t have women falling for him, but sure goes speed dating and has a meet-cute with Silver. She asks, “So what’s your favourite food, worms, garbage from a dumpster or dirt?” He is not interested, she is too nerdy, they are meant to meet later in the film.
If only Red didn’t mistakenly do things like cut off electricity wire in enemy territory and propel the process of getting caught. Or, let his feather fall on the guard while watching the frozen island.
Over to the bad guys, the icy Zeta, the purple eagle would like to capture the beautiful rainbow islands inhabited by birds and pigs. She has a back-story too, the one that goes back to high school and involves a broken heart.
The colourful birds, the captivating islands, the stunts give ample chance for the animation to shine through. Since you are happily aboard a silly ride, twisted phrases like ‘May I shake your hoof’ don’t hurt, rather tickle. And also whoever said silly is not funny, underestimated the power of silly done right.
manpriya@tribunemail.com
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