Every time I watch a post-apocalyptic film or series, I can’t help but speculate about how my family and I would fare if disaster struck. Honestly, the outcome is pretty clear: we’d probably perish. We lack survival skills—really, we have no useful abilities at all—and our house is practically all windows. It’s the worst possible shelter for a zombie apocalypse.
I often have a recurring nightmare where we’re fleeing from a horde of zombies, deliberating over which parent should sacrifice themselves to ensure our four children escape safely. I know I’m slower and weaker than my husband, so if I stayed back to fend off the zombies, he could carry several of our little ones and run faster, boosting their chances of survival. Unfortunately, my husband can be quite impractical. So, while they might survive that encounter, they could easily meet their end due to his poor decision-making. It’s quite the dilemma.
This is why I found Netflix’s “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” so relatable. While it isn’t a zombie apocalypse—it’s a robot takeover—the Mitchell family embodies the kind of protagonists I can relate to. They genuinely care for each other and navigate chaos as I imagine most families do—like mine certainly does.
Finally, a family that mirrors the everyday experience of having zero survival skills, yet still finds themselves in a highly stressful situation while accidentally saving the world. There are no secret superheroes or powerful connections here. Instead, everyone is a bit quirky, a little offbeat, and slightly out of place.
Let’s dive into the details.
“The Mitchells vs. The Machines” is a clever, quirky crowd-pleaser
This animated action-comedy showcases a typical family facing a robot uprising reminiscent of Skynet—though thankfully, it’s not quite as deadly (the more gruesome events happen offscreen). Created by the same team behind the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The LEGO Movie,” fans of those films will definitely enjoy “The Mitchells vs. The Machines.” I found myself laughing out loud at many of the film’s random humor.
Here’s the gist of the plot: Katie Mitchell, a creative outlier, gets into film school and is thrilled to finally be with “her people.” However, her nature-loving father keeps pushing for a backup plan and ruins their last family night before her flight to California by surprising her with a road trip to bond as a family one last time.
Then, the robot apocalypse kicks in when an Apple-like company’s smartphones transform into personal robots, which take over the world during a press conference. The robots then capture and confine every human in massive hexagonal cells for their own nefarious purposes. Chaos ensues.
Highlights of “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”
The standout feature of the film is its absurd humor. It brilliantly critiques pop culture and society with a light-hearted touch. From the family’s pug Monchi to the silly robots and the vibrant animation style, every moment is filled with wit. The hilarious mall scene with Furbys is a definite highlight—you’ll know when you see it!
Overall, “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” cleverly comments on the ways technology has overshadowed real relationships, how family love can both uplift and challenge one’s self-worth, and how embracing your quirks can be a strength. (The latter reminded me of “Spies in Disguise” from 2019.)
What could have made “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” exceptional
Despite my enjoyment, a few elements of “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” didn’t resonate with me. I understand that children’s movies often come with a “special message” about love or other themes, but this film’s delivery felt a bit heavy-handed and overly obvious. At times, it felt like I was being lectured—albeit by a skilled orator—which came across as slightly patronizing.
There were several moments where the pacing lagged, or the plot became too ridiculous for me to suspend disbelief. I found myself thinking, “Come on, you can do better!”
While I appreciated the inclusion of diverse characters, it was disappointing that, in 2021, the “ordinary” family still leaned heavily towards being predominantly white. Is it really too much to envision a family of color as the average family audience? This felt particularly frustrating given the credits showcase a diverse cast and crew. It would have been more reflective of reality if the film’s optics matched the behind-the-scenes diversity.
Lastly, while I liked that Katie’s queerness was addressed almost casually, I’m tired of movies treating LGBTQIA+ identities as a surprise twist. Being queer isn’t a plot twist. The creators could have seamlessly integrated Katie’s identity throughout the movie, similar to how they portrayed her younger brother’s character, instead of relegating it to a subtle detail that might be easily missed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” caters to all audiences, providing humor that parents and older children will appreciate, while younger viewers may not grasp the deeper nuances until they’re older. It’s quality family entertainment that will likely remain a favorite for years to come.
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Summary:
In summary, while “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” is an entertaining family movie with a humorous take on technology and relationships, it could have benefited from a more nuanced approach to its themes, a more diverse representation, and a better integration of character identities.