screenshot by K. Reyes on 4/2021
Bibliographic Information:
- Title: The Mitchells vs. The Machines
- Starring Characters Voiced by: Abbie Jacobson (Katie/daughter/sister)), Danny McBride (Rick/Dad), Maya Rudolph (Linda/Mom), Michael Rianda (Aaron/son/brother), Olivia Colman (AI assistant/smartphone voice)
- Release Date: April 30, 2021
- Directed & written by: Michael Rianda & Jeff Rowe
- Developed & produced by Phil Lord and Christoper Miller
- Distributed by: Netflix
- Running time: 1 hr 503min
Genre [Format]:
- Animation, Action/Adventure, Comedy [Movie]
- None so far; just released a few days ago.
- PG (This is a family friendly movie with no profanity and generally wholesome characters)
Plot Summary:
Katie Mitchell wants to go to film school but first she must fight robots, mobilized by an angry AI 1.0 version, that are now taking over the world after unplugging everyone from their internet connections. However, she can’t do this on her own. Enter, her dysfunctional family: Dad, Rick is a bit overprotective and out of touch, not connected to the internet, and depicted as a stereotypical hunting dad; Mom, Linda, is a first grade teacher who tries to keep the family’s social media presence more appealing but is failing in comparison to her instagram “perfect” neighbors; brother Aaron is obsessed with dinosaurs and is Katie’s biggest fan of her homemade film creations. The family must figure out how to beat the artificial intelligence machines as they, the Mitchells, are now the last remaining humans/hope of the world who have not yet been trapped in a honeycomb by the machines.
Katie Mitchell wants to go to film school but first she must fight robots, mobilized by an angry AI 1.0 version, that are now taking over the world after unplugging everyone from their internet connections. However, she can’t do this on her own. Enter, her dysfunctional family: Dad, Rick is a bit overprotective and out of touch, not connected to the internet, and depicted as a stereotypical hunting dad; Mom, Linda, is a first grade teacher who tries to keep the family’s social media presence more appealing but is failing in comparison to her instagram “perfect” neighbors; brother Aaron is obsessed with dinosaurs and is Katie’s biggest fan of her homemade film creations. The family must figure out how to beat the artificial intelligence machines as they, the Mitchells, are now the last remaining humans/hope of the world who have not yet been trapped in a honeycomb by the machines.
Watch the official trailer, entertaining it itself (Netflix, 2021).
Writer/Director Background:
Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe used to write for Disney TV in the series called Gravity Falls (Brown, 2021). Rianda was born in 1985 and grew up in Salinas, California. From 2008-2010, he attended California Institute of the Arts and studied character animation and later interned at Pixar. He is currently working as a writer/director for Sony Pictures Animation. According to Rianda, the Mitchell family characters are inspired by members of his own family and the siblings are younger versions of himself (Longo, 2021).
Jeff Rowe is originally from Chicago, Illinois and at twenty, he left to attend California Institute of the Arts where he graduated in 2011 (Fandom.com, n.d). Rowe is also a writer and director most known for being one of the writers of Gravity Falls as well as director for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He is married to the actress Natalie Cañizares.
Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe used to write for Disney TV in the series called Gravity Falls (Brown, 2021). Rianda was born in 1985 and grew up in Salinas, California. From 2008-2010, he attended California Institute of the Arts and studied character animation and later interned at Pixar. He is currently working as a writer/director for Sony Pictures Animation. According to Rianda, the Mitchell family characters are inspired by members of his own family and the siblings are younger versions of himself (Longo, 2021).
Jeff Rowe is originally from Chicago, Illinois and at twenty, he left to attend California Institute of the Arts where he graduated in 2011 (Fandom.com, n.d). Rowe is also a writer and director most known for being one of the writers of Gravity Falls as well as director for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He is married to the actress Natalie Cañizares.
Critical Evaluation:
This is a fast paced, action packed movie that takes what we are secretly afraid of, artificial intelligence taking over the world, and creates a believable and frightening scenario that still leaves room for humor and levity. The animation is vivid and bold in its color and fast-paced in its movements. There are very few moments where the story slows down to let the audience breathe. It goes from one action to another especially once the family starts encountering the robots.
The story itself had a sense of foreboding for me as the robots in the movie are identical to the robots we saw in at least three international airports in Asia during the years I travelled with my small children. These life-sized robots would be stationed in front of stores and often next to the traveller information kiosks where they would greet arriving travelers. My kids thought it was cool while I thought it was creepy. Nonetheless, the film accurately captures a loving, dysfunctional family doing their best to understand each other’s quirks and interests. It’s also an excellent social commentary that will make us think about the role of technology in our lives and the all encompassing power we give it over our very existence. This was worth devoting almost two hours of my life to watch and for once, I watched a movie in one sitting and was thoroughly entertained. This movie appeals to teens who are on the cusp of freedom, ready to leave for college, yet still reluctantly tethered to their families.
This is a fast paced, action packed movie that takes what we are secretly afraid of, artificial intelligence taking over the world, and creates a believable and frightening scenario that still leaves room for humor and levity. The animation is vivid and bold in its color and fast-paced in its movements. There are very few moments where the story slows down to let the audience breathe. It goes from one action to another especially once the family starts encountering the robots.
The story itself had a sense of foreboding for me as the robots in the movie are identical to the robots we saw in at least three international airports in Asia during the years I travelled with my small children. These life-sized robots would be stationed in front of stores and often next to the traveller information kiosks where they would greet arriving travelers. My kids thought it was cool while I thought it was creepy. Nonetheless, the film accurately captures a loving, dysfunctional family doing their best to understand each other’s quirks and interests. It’s also an excellent social commentary that will make us think about the role of technology in our lives and the all encompassing power we give it over our very existence. This was worth devoting almost two hours of my life to watch and for once, I watched a movie in one sitting and was thoroughly entertained. This movie appeals to teens who are on the cusp of freedom, ready to leave for college, yet still reluctantly tethered to their families.
Creative Use for a Library Program:
This is a movie that can be shown in the library without requiring parent permission forms. It would be fun to show this on the last week of school after finals week in May as it’s a feel good movie that still has a deeper message about family and finding our way in life.
This is a movie that can be shown in the library without requiring parent permission forms. It would be fun to show this on the last week of school after finals week in May as it’s a feel good movie that still has a deeper message about family and finding our way in life.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer:
Katie Mitchell is so ready to go to film school when dad, Rick, decides that a family road trip is the best way to get her there. In another part of the country, an angry AI assistant mobilizes hundreds of thousands of other AI machines, mostly robots, to take over the world. How will the Mitchells fight back now that they’re the last remaining humans uncaptured by the robots? The Mitchell family will have to get creative in their attempt to save the world. Check out how it happens in this movie, The Mitchells vs. the Machines.
Katie Mitchell is so ready to go to film school when dad, Rick, decides that a family road trip is the best way to get her there. In another part of the country, an angry AI assistant mobilizes hundreds of thousands of other AI machines, mostly robots, to take over the world. How will the Mitchells fight back now that they’re the last remaining humans uncaptured by the robots? The Mitchell family will have to get creative in their attempt to save the world. Check out how it happens in this movie, The Mitchells vs. the Machines.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
One will have to be hyper-critical to find something to challenge in this film which is family-friendly and has something appealing for everyone. They mocked everything from our over reliance on technology, our obsessions with social media, our attempts at centering ourselves through yoga and our never ending self absorption. One would be hard-pressed to not find anything to smirk about in this film.
One will have to be hyper-critical to find something to challenge in this film which is family-friendly and has something appealing for everyone. They mocked everything from our over reliance on technology, our obsessions with social media, our attempts at centering ourselves through yoga and our never ending self absorption. One would be hard-pressed to not find anything to smirk about in this film.
Reason for Inclusion:
This movie is, ironically, a much needed respite from our hyper connected world. It’s such a fun film to watch and teens will love this.
This movie is, ironically, a much needed respite from our hyper connected world. It’s such a fun film to watch and teens will love this.
REFERENCES
Brown, T. (2021, April 30). In evil-robot animated comedy 'Mitchells vs. the Machines,' not all tech is bad. Here's why. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-04-30/mitchells-vs-machines-family-roadtrip-robot-apocalypse-technology
Fandom.com. (n.d.). Jeff Rowe. Gravity Falls Wiki. https://gravityfalls.fandom.com/wiki/Jeff_Rowe.
IMDb.com. (2021). The Mitchells vs the Machines. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8045906/awards?ref_=tt_awd
IMDb.com. (n.d.). Jeff Rowe. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6676487/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm.
Longo, J. (2021, April 30). The Mitchells vs. the Machines director Mike Rianda wants to make you laugh. Vulture. https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/the-mitchells-vs-the-machines-director-wants-you-to-laugh.html.
Netflix. (2021, March 31). The Michells vs. the MAchines official trailer. [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_ak5dFt8Ar0
Fandom.com. (n.d.). Jeff Rowe. Gravity Falls Wiki. https://gravityfalls.fandom.com/wiki/Jeff_Rowe.
IMDb.com. (2021). The Mitchells vs the Machines. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8045906/awards?ref_=tt_awd
IMDb.com. (n.d.). Jeff Rowe. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6676487/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm.
Longo, J. (2021, April 30). The Mitchells vs. the Machines director Mike Rianda wants to make you laugh. Vulture. https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/the-mitchells-vs-the-machines-director-wants-you-to-laugh.html.
Netflix. (2021, March 31). The Michells vs. the MAchines official trailer. [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_ak5dFt8Ar0
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