FREE BIRDS (Jimmy Hayward). 91 minutes. Opens Friday (November 1). For venues and times, see listings. Rating: NNN
A Thanksgiving-themed talking turkey movie was inevitable. Almost all other holidays have been exploited for children’s animated films, and the tale of a sentient turkey who hates the annual feast was too obvious to ignore.
Thankfully, Free Birds features just the right combination of clever behind-the scenes-talent and well-cast voice actors to deliver a surprisingly enjoyable bit of family fluff.
Owen Wilson voices Reggie, a smart turkey who wants more from life than to be someone’s main course. Fortunately, he’s selected by the president to be the annual pardoned turkey and spends a few weeks eating pizza and relaxing in the White House. Then tough guy turkey Jake (Woody Harrelson) shows up, claiming to have been destined from childhood to find Reggie and go back in time to stop the first Thanksgiving. Weirdly, there’s a time machine in the White House, so that actually happens. Soon Reggie and Jake are back in early America fighting off Pilgrims to take their ancestors off the menu.
The plot is executed with surprising wit by Pixar veteran director Jimmy Hayward as well as co-writer Scott Mosier. The pop culture humour is a step above the usual post-Shrek reference pool (especially the Bill And Ted-flavoured time travel gags), and the voice actors have been cast for comedic talent rather than name recognition.
Indie animation studio Reel FX can’t quite manage Pixar-quality visuals, yet finds a simple, playful aesthetic that suits the tone. Free Birds is a pleasant distraction that should please kids without boring parents, and that’s really all you can ask of a talking turkey picture.
