The Angry Birds Movie

"Someone has anger issues."

On Bird Island, everyone is happy and friendly, except for Red (Sudeikis).  Red moved his home away from everyone else and is in court mandated anger management.  The class is led by Matilda (Rudolph) and includes speedy Chuck (Gad), the explosive Bomb (McBride), and imposing but silent Terence (Penn).  Red does not get along with the rest of the group and is ostracized by the town.  One day a ship arrives with pigs.

The pigs, Leonard (Hader) and Ross (Hale), are welcomed with open arms by the birds.  Red is suspicious, and with the help of his classmates, finds that the ship is filled with more pigs.  The pigs claim to be explorers, on a peace and fact-finding mission and share technology with the birds.  But Red believes they are up to something and seeks the help of the mythical hero of the island, the Mighty Eagle.  Can Red and his friends figure out the pigs plan and save the day?


In 2009, Finnish company Rovio Mobile debuted the game Angry Birds.  The game focuses on flightless birds that are shot by slingshot at green pigs.  The game is very popular and has 16 different versions (https://www.angrybirds.com/games/).  The characters went on to star in 3 TV shows: Angry Bird Toons (premiered in 2013), Piggy Tales (premiered in 2014), and Angry Birds Stella (2014-2016).

It isn't bad, but it isn't great either.  The characters get personalities and celebrity voices.  The main characters from the game have names and have a part in the action.  And like the game, they all get shot at the pigs with a slingshot.  All of the characters but Stella use their special skill from the game.  The pigs also get names and personalities (and celebrity voices).  Bill Hader steals the show as Leonard.  And a close runner-up is Peter Dinklage as the Mighty Eagle. (both are usually scene stealers).  Kids will probably enjoy the animation and the jokes, but adults may not enjoy it.  Overall I enjoyed the film, but it wasn't overly memorable and I don't have the desire to watch it again.

Rovio is planning to make a sequel.

The Angry Birds Movie (2016) 97 minutes
Director: Clay Katis & Fergal Reilly
Starring: Jason Sudeikis as Red
Josh Gad as Chuck
Danny McBride as Bomb
Maya Rudolph as Matilda
Bill Hader as Leonard
Peter Dinklage as the Mighty Eagle
Sean Penn as Terence
Keegan-Michael Key as Judge Peckinpah
Kate McKinnon as Stella
Tony Hale as Ross / Cyrus
Titus Burgess as Photog
Ian Hecox as Bubbles
Anthony Padilla as Hal