tech
‘Apocalyptically funny’: why The Mitchells vs the Machines is my feelgood movie
The latest in our series of writers explaining their comfort watches is a celebration of 2021’s acclaimed animated adventure
TL;DR
- The film uses animation to explore the world through different perspectives, including a teenage girl and a rogue AI.
- It combines a father-daughter conflict with a techno-apocalypse, featuring a chaotic mix of styles and colors.
- The story balances zaniness with a heartfelt narrative about relationships, technology, and past selves.
- It avoids taking a simple stance on generational differences, allowing for a balanced view of both characters' perspectives.
- Family is central to the film, with emotive details including queerness and neurodiversity.
- The movie is humorously apocalyptic, combining various animation styles with live-action elements.
- It features violent robots, sentient appliances, and Furbies involved in a murder plot.
- Olivia Colman plays the evil AI, Pal, in an entertaining role.
- The film treats technology with both awe and suspicion, offering a warning while acknowledging its potential.
- Concerns about AI have grown since the film's release, making a sequel relevant.