Review - The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Finding You

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Friday, May 21st.

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Good morning. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard.

Coming next on The World and Everything in It: family movie night.

Sometimes it’s hard to find films that both children and parents can enjoy together. WORLD’s Sarah Schweinsberg says there are two new movies out that mostly fit the bill.

SARAH SCHWEINSBERG REPORTER: Netflix released it’s animated movie The Mitchells vs. the Machines last month. It quickly became the platform’s top streaming movie.

CLIP: Every family has its challenges from picture day to picky eaters. For my family our greatest challenge, probably the machine apocalypse.

The story centers on the Mitchell family, a quirky bunch with little in common with their neighbors, let alone each other. Youngest son Aaron is obsessed with dinosaurs. Mom Linda loves stickers and cupcakes.

Father and daughter Rick and Katie are even further apart: Katie loves to create short films and memes, while her father prefers to be outdoors, hunting. He feels increasingly alienated from Katie, who spends most of her time on her phone and computer.

As Katie prepares to leave for film school, the family’s differences threaten to pull them apart. Cue a good, old-fashioned family road trip.

KATIE: Wait, why do you need all of that to take me to the airport?

RICK: I messed things up last night, but I’m going to make it up to you. I cancelled your plane ticket to college.

KATIE: You what?!

There’s nothing like the open highway to bring a family together, right? But when not even that works, there doesn’t seem to be a road ahead for the Mitchells.

That is, until giant tech company, Pal, rolls out its latest digital assistant—a friendly robot.

CLIP: Your digital assistant just got an upgrade. Meet Pal Max!

Then, a mysterious, evil overlord takes over the robots’ software. And the AIs quickly turn against their human masters, locking them up and kicking them off the planet.

Suddenly, it’s up to the mixed-up Mitchells to save the world. But to do that, they’ll have to accept—and even embrace—their differences.

CLIP: Play it safe? When Rick Mitchell brought a live non-neutered, feral possum into our home, did he play it safe? No, he named him Gus and made him a member of the family, and we all got rabies that one time. But now we’re immunized and we’re stronger for it. Yeah, OK I see what you’re doing.

This loud and colorful comedy, rated PG, features a wonderful group of voice actors, as well as nonstop action and humor that bridges generational gaps. And the film pushes children and teens away from the culturally popular idea of chosen families. Instead, it encourages them to embrace the family they were born into despite differences in viewpoints and interests.

CLIP: CLOSING MUSIC FROM THE MOVIE

Here’s the downside. Throughout the movie, Katie wears a rainbow pin, but nothing is said about it. And then during the credits her mom asks her, “Are you and Jade official?”—suggesting Katie is gay. So parents will have to decide if the film’s entertainment benefits outweigh this tacked-on LGBT nod.

SOT: IRISH MUSIC

Next, pack your bags and break out the fiddle. It’s time to head to Ireland.

Finding You is a coming-of-age film now in theaters aimed at a teenage and college-aged audience. The movie is based on a 2011 novel about a young woman who spends a semester abroad in a tiny Irish village.

Finley Sinclair is hoping to gain admission into an elite music conservatory to play the violin. But her hyper-focus on technique prevents her passion from translating to the strings. After a failed audition, she packs her bags for the green shires of Ireland, where her older brother who died several years earlier, also spent a semester of college.

On her flight, the secret dream of many-a-teenage girl comes true. She happens to sit next to a movie star, Beckett Rush, who is filming a fantasy show in Ireland’s castles.

SINCLAIR: Beckett Rush?

RUSH: Shhh, I’ve come this far without being bothered right. Look if you keep quiet, I’ll give you an autograph when we land, alright? We can do a selfie or something just not until we land. I don’t want to attract any attention, OK?

SINCLAIR: I really don’t want anything from you.

Good girl Finley doesn’t trust this tabloid celebrity, but Beckett is intrigued by her down-to-earth qualities. He wants to prove he’s more than a good-looking face.

While the quite predictable—and at times cheesy—prince-and-pauper intrigue will make some eyes roll, tween and teenage viewers will enjoy the sweet romance.

CLIP: "Why is Beckett Rush in your living room?" "No…" "No, that’s definitely him." "You can’t tell anyone." "Beckett Rush is in my house!"

And viewers of all ages will, of course, enjoy the Irish scenery they’ve come to expect, complete with breezy walks by the sea, visits to a pub and the Cliffs of Moher.

CLIP: "Do you even really like being a movie star?" "Why wouldn't I?" "That’s not what I asked."

Other positives? Unlike most love stories aimed at teens and young adults, this one doesn’t feature sexual content, aside from brief kisses and a sprinkling of mild profanity.

And Finley doesn’t talk about her faith, but a subplot shows her being drawn to her older brother’s apparently Christian beliefs. A drawing he leaves behind takes her to a cross with an inscription reading, “The Lord Himself goes before you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

MUSIC: THE STORY OF MY LIFE BY ONE DIRECTION

It’s an interesting tangent for a film about romantic love, which of course, is notoriously unreliable. But that gives parents the opportunity to talk to their kids—especially their daughters—about what true love is all about.

I’m Sarah Schweinsberg.

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