‘Storks’ delivers bundle of joy
Warner Bros lovingly orchestrates amiable chaos
(7) STORKS. Directed by: Nicholas Stoller, Doug Sweetland. Starring: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Anton Starkman, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Danny Trejo. Showing at Hemingways, The Bridge, Walmer Park, Baywest. Reviewed by Robbie Collin
THE new family animation Storks is profoundly smart in the way only spectacularly daft films can be. From its opening moments, the second film from Warner Bros’ new in-house Animation Group goes about its work with all the thoughtful composure of a flailing hosepipe in an old slapstick two-reeler.
But after softening you up with whatever the comedic equivalent of a triple somersault with a half pike and double twist is, it lands on its emotional target – we’re talking freely trickling tears – with a persuasive and satisfying thud.
Warner Animation Group’s only other film to date was 2014’s The Lego Movie, which pulled off this exact trick with a flair and precision that surprised almost everybody – but while Storks can’t quite match its sheer breakneck inventiveness, it’s still a densely funny, lovingly orchestrated hour-and-a-half of amiable chaos.
Here’s how it goes: until recently, storks were mainly known for delivering babies – but a few years ago, the birds caught the updraft of the e-commerce boom, and now run an Amazon-like retail giant called Cornerstore.com, which distributes everything but.
The storks’ now-obsolete baby machine is gathering dust in a warehouse: “There are just so many other ways of getting them”, someone observes, though the film draws a tasteful veil over the specifics. Or it is until Tulip (Katie Crown), a human orphan raised by the storks thanks to a historic workplace mishap, reactivates it.
The poppet who pops out must be delivered to her rightful parents, so Tulip commits to the task, with help from her (stork) manager Junior (Andy Samberg), who’s anxious to shield his exacting boss Hunter (Kelsey Grammer) from this unfolding disaster. Their ensuing door-to-door odyssey zings with a scattershot, anything-goes spirit of silliness Warner Animation Group would do well to make their trademark. Take Tulip and Junior’s ongoing feud with a wolf pack.
It’s a visual joke that brings the house down as wolves are wont to do – partly because the concept is so offbeat, but also because the animation is so weighty, rhythmic and physically precise.
Waiting at the other end is Nate (Anton Starkman), a young boy hoping for a playmate to spend the kind of quality time with him that his workaholic parents (Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell) slowly learn to spare.
Storks doesn’t labour the point – it’s a pea of sentiment beneath 15 pocket-sprung mattresses-worth of lunacy – but its prickle comes through sharp and clear.