Watch Free Birds

Free Birds is a 2013 animated comedy film directed by Jimmy Hayward and stars the voices of Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, and Dan Fogler. The movie follows the story of two time-traveling turkeys who try to change history and remove turkey from the Thanksgiving menu. The film starts by introducing us to Reggie (voiced by Owen Wilson), a turkey living a comfortable life on a farm in the countryside. He spends his days eating pizza and watching TV, but he's soon kidnapped and taken to the government's secret turkey lab. Here, he meets the enthusiastic and optimistic Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson), who tells him about his plan to time-travel back to the 17th century and prevent the turkey from becoming the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Jake convinces Reggie to join his mission, and they manage to break out of the facility with the help of a dim-witted turkey named Jenny (voiced by Amy Poehler). The trio then embarks on a time-travel adventure and finds themselves in the year 1621, where they meet the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.

Along the way, the three turkeys encounter many obstacles, including a bully turkey named Myles Standish (voiced by Colm Meaney), who is determined to make sure that turkey continues to be served at Thanksgiving dinner. They also face dangers such as hunting and the fear of being eaten themselves.

As they navigate through their adventure, Reggie and Jake face some personal struggles. Reggie is skeptical about committing to the mission, while Jake's single-minded focus threatens to ruin their chances of changing history. However, they eventually work past their differences and become friends, leading to a resolution that allows them to make a significant impact on the world.

The film's plot is straightforward, and the humor is mostly geared towards children. The animation is bright, colorful, and well-executed, but it doesn't break any new ground. The movie does take some risks by challenging the cliché of Thanksgiving and the traditional depiction of Native Americans in American cinema. It also reinforces the values of teamwork, perseverance, and friendship.

In terms of voice acting, Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson have great chemistry and bring their characters to life with ease. Dan Fogler's character, the President of the United States, adds a touch of sarcasm and wit to the story. The film also includes an excellent soundtrack featuring the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, and Elton John.

One of the movie's core themes is the idea of changing history for the better. There's a sense of urgency in the ongoing global debate around the treatment of turkeys and the ethics of Thanksgiving as a holiday. This movie shows how one determined turkey can make a difference, and that it's possible to rewrite the narrative, even if it's something that many hold dear.

While it's arguably not as emotionally or comedically effective as some of the other animated movies released around the same time, Free Birds is a fun film that's worth watching with the family. It doesn't take itself too seriously and delivers an entertaining story with good voice acting and excellent animation.

In conclusion, Free Birds is an enjoyable movie that successfully combines humor and adventure to tell a story of friendship, teamwork, and changing the course of history. While it may not be the most memorable or groundbreaking animated film of its time, it remains a fun and lighthearted option for families looking for wholesome entertainment.

Free Birds is a 2013 animated movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 38.