THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES

This is a fun, unusual animated adventure with a strong pro-family heart. The film stresses loving your family, repairing difficult relationships, working together, and loving people despite their differences. Its touching scenes between Katie and her father give the robot apocalypse genuine emotional weight.

The content concern is mostly peril. Robots shoot at people, take them captive, and create many dangerous situations. There is also an implied same-sex relationship comment in the middle of the credits, with many rainbow themes. The story can feel convoluted and longwinded, but its morally uplifting message is clear.

Older children and adults can take the trip; parents should use discernment with younger children.

Katie is a quirky teenager with a passion for making movies and uploading them to YouTube. After she is accepted into film school, her father, Rick, decides the whole family should drive her to college so they can restore their bond.

The family turns the road trip into a movie and stops at a dinosaur museum for Katie’s brother, Aaron. Then robots arrive, people are forced into pods, and the Mitchells must hide. Soon, Katie discovers the robots are connected to PAL, a technology company controlling almost all the world’s devices.

Three stars means a good film with real strengths but noticeable limitations. The animation is the standout achievement. It beautifully combines a glossy CGI look for the robots and technology with an imperfect, hand-drawn look for the quirky human characters.

The film is also odd and quirky in a fun way, with touching family scenes and an emotionally meaningful relationship between father and daughter. The main weakness is the storyline, which becomes convoluted and longwinded. The movie could have been about 25 minutes shorter.

The film presents a morally uplifting, pro-family worldview. It values sacrifice, family unity, perseverance through hardship, and refusing to abandon the people you love. It also stresses appreciating what parents have done for their children and working on relationships even when family members are very different.

The film’s central conflict contrasts smooth, seemingly perfect technology with an imperfect but loving human family. The story does not offer a detailed biblical account of God, but it does include one character asking for prayer. Family members also do yoga. The credits include an implied comment about a same-sex relationship, along with many rainbow themes.

The film’s longing for connection points toward the biblical call to bear with one another in love: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES is quirky, touching, and visually creative, with a message that celebrates family love and perseverance. Its peril calls for parental discernment, and the story runs long. For older children and adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND UP.