Everyone knows the idea of storks
delivering babies to their parents. It’s
something rooted in folk lore and ancient mythology. And it’s what parents sometimes tell their
children whenever they’re asked, “Where do babies come from?” and they find it uncomfortably
awkward to tell the truth. Well, that’s
the concept behind the animated movie Storks. It’s set in a world wherein anthropomorphic storks
(as well as other animals) exist, and used to deliver babies as profession, working
for a company called Cornerstone. But Cornerstone
discontinued the baby delivering business and instead redirected its focus on
delivering internet retail merchandises, which proves to be a more profitable
venture.
The plot revolves around Junior
(Andy Samberg), the top delivery stork of Cornerstone, who finds his recent promotion to boss threatened
when Tulip (Katie Crown) – who, as an infant, was undelivered, and thus, was
taken in by the company and grew up among storks – accidentally turns the long shut-down Baby Factory on, which produces an adorable baby girl. Before Hunter (Kelsey Grammer), the
mean-spirited CEO of Cornerstone, can find out of the mishap, the two have to find
a way to deliver the unauthorized infant, who they eventually named “Diamond
Destiny”, to her parents.
At most parts, Storks is your typical animated movie
for kids. It has an amusing, easy-to-follow
plot (albeit a moderately muddled storytelling) with an effort to bring “the
feels.”
The jokes aren’t quite sophisticatedly
clever, but there are some nice hits.
My favorite gag involves this wolf pack that is oddly capable of assembling
into vehicles and constructs (as if they’re a combination of the Voltron Vehicle
Force and Lego).
The animation is pleasantly colorful. It’s definitely going for a “cuteness” win,
with the babies and all. I guess the
babies were fine. But seeing baby Dory
and baby Moana first absolutely ruined for me any cuteness that Storks has to offer.
Again, in most parts, “typical”
is the word to describe Storks. But there’s this one striking thing about it –
and not in a good way. (SPOILERS) Near
the end of the movie, in the montage depicting the storks delivering the babies
to parents, at least two same-sex couples were among the ones shown receiving
new babies. It was fleeting, but I was still
stunned because it was the first time I encountered homosexuality blatantly depicted
in a kid-friendly animated movie. I know
that the time will come when even Disney will make movies that openly feature LGBTQ
characters. It’s saddening, but it’s simply
the path this world is going to.
However, though I’ve long expected its inevitability in the medium, I
was still completely floored by the presence of homosexuality in Storks.
Storks has enough redeeming aspects to be an averagely entertaining
watch. But with this year’s crop of fantastic
animated films – which aren’t only better crafted, but also have much more
worthwhile themes – it’s a pretty disposable animated movie overall.
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