Birds Like Us
Birds Like Us
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Birds Like Us is an animated tale inspired by the Persian poem "The Conference of the Birds," by Farid-ud-din Attar. Expect mild violence, including meat-eating vultures occasionally trying to snap or peck at other birds. The main vulture and his minions threaten to eat the other birds if they can't have their eggs. There's also peril/scariness in the form of dark caves and funnel clouds. Insults include "stupid" and "shut up." Positive messages include promoting courage and facing your fears, but some of that could be lost amid the confusing plot and characters speaking in riddles. The characters are a diverse group with many different shapes and sizes, and the band of birds is largely led by a strong female character who's looking for a better life for herself and her egg. The movie is a Bosnian production that was originally released outside the United States in 2017 and boasts some high-profile voice talent for the English-language dub, including Jeremy Irons and Alicia Vikander.
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It's a spiritual rabbit hole perspective.
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What's the Story?
In BIRDS LIKE US, after years of staying within a single tree to remain hidden from something they know as the Horror, a group of birds who've forgotten how to fly sets out on a journey to see if they might find a better way of life. The citizens of Birdabad are afraid of life outside their tree and therefore tolerate a daily ritual of offering up their eggs to a vulture named Kondor (Jeremy Irons) and his gang in a trade for fruit. But a mother bird named Huppu (Alicia Vikander) who wants to protect her egg questions the way things have always been. She meets a wise and strange bat who says he can help guide them. Together the group travels through desert, ocean, and storm on a quest to find home.
Is It Any Good?
Trying to describe Birds Like Us is like trying to describe a strange dream. The story seems simple enough: animals take a journey to find a better home. We've seen this before with movies such as Madagascar, The Wild, and Back to the Outback. Those movies share an easy-to-follow plot and an animation style that's pleasant to watch, but Birds Like Us falls short. The animation isn't great, and the storyline is tricky to follow. A wise bat creature that has a long beard, fluffy tail, and stones for eyes often speaks in strange riddles and parables. He asks the group to take him "where the sun goes at night" and says he will take them "above and beyond." The looming "Horror" that all of the birds are afraid of is never clearly seen or explained except in periodic storms or funnel clouds.
Though the movie has some flaws, the voice cast and acting is enjoyable. There are a couple of interesting visual moments, such as a sky full of buttons and floating umbrellas. The main villain experiences some growth right at the end and the flightless birds are forced to finally face their fears. It's standard stuff that most kids have seen before elsewhere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how easy or challenging it can be to change your way of doing something. Which characters were reluctant to try something new and which were ready for a change? When have you had to make a big change?
Even if you knew there was going to be a happy ending, which scenes were sad and/or scary? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
The vulture Kondor transforms throughout the movie. What kind of character development did he experience? Why do you think he was able to change?
How do the characters demonstrate courage? Why is that an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 24, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: January 25, 2022
- Cast: Alicia Vikander, Jeremy Irons, Sheridan Smith, Jim Broadbent
- Directors: Faruk Sabanovic, Amela Cuhara
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Wild Animals
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: Thematic elements
- Last updated: February 4, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
Ice Age
Clever, funny, touching; like a great road movie.
-
Finding Nemo
Sweet father-son tale has some very scary moments.
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Madagascar
Cute story has some crude humor and innuendo.
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Back to the Outback
Funny animated animal tale has potty humor, innuendo.
For kids who love animal adventures
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