Storks (2016)

This was unlike any other animated film I've seen recently. It was unique. It wasn't as charming as Sing. It was nowhere near as good as Moana. Storks is in a league all on its own.

This is not a bad thing by any means. It does have a nice message for any parents watching. It is funny, although not in a way you would expect. It's because of this I'm not sure I see kids being too entertained by this. There were kids in the audience, but if the adults were unsure of what to think of the film then I'm sure many things went over their heads.

Written and co-directed by Nicholas Stoller, Stocks is about family. It is a tongue in cheek reference to the age old question of where children come from. The animation is fun, but it is oddly paced and the story line frenetic.

The storks in the film used to deliver babies, but now they own cornerstore.com and deliver consumer products. Junior (Andy Samberg) is the company's best employee and is on his way to the promotion of boss. The company's CEO Hunter (Kelsey Grammar) has only one condition. Junior will be promoted as long as he fires the only human working at cornerstore.com, the orphan Tulip (Katie Crown), as she is 18 and able to leave the place legally.

Meanwhile, only child Nate has had enough of being ignored by his workaholic parents (Ty Burrell and Jennifer Aniston) and decides he wants a baby brother. He writes a letter to the Storks and as Junior did not have the heart to fire Tulip, she works in the mailroom where the letter arrives. She accidentally puts it into the old-baby making machine and ends up creating a now forbidden (at cornerstore.com at least) baby.

Now that the baby exists she must be delivered. Junior is determined to deliver the baby before anyone finds out allowing him to still get promoted. Tulip wants to deliver it as she's never had such responsibilities before. The two set out to deliver the baby.

That's where it gets truly strange. There are many "WTF?!" moments in the film. This somehow works (despite questioning why things are happening) due to the all-star cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Danny Trejo and Stephen Kramer Glickman. It is fun to watch. The odd moments are so odd you can't help but laugh.

This is definitely an animated film meant more for adults. There is a trippy moment involving the pigeon that comes out of nowhere. The wolves assemble themselves into a suspension bridge, boat, and submarine and it's as ridiculous as it sounds. Nate is aware that he's growing up and his parents will regret not spending time with him. Of course no kids no this, but it adds for good comedy.