Free Birds Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two turkeys, one a genius outcast and the other a delusional zealot, steal a time machine to give pizza to Pilgrims and Native Americans so no one ever eats turkey again, thus solving time travel paradoxes with deliciousness.

🍿 Free Birds: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Reggie’s Revelation and Presidential Pardon

Reggie is an intelligent turkey ostracized by his flock for warning them about Thanksgiving’s true purpose. He’s viewed as a pariah, but his fate takes a surprising turn when he’s pardoned by the President of the United States due to the President’s daughter’s fondness for him. This unexpected reprieve whisks Reggie away from the farm to a life of luxury at Camp David. At Camp David, Reggie indulges in pizza, telenovelas, and a carefree lifestyle, a stark contrast to his previous existence. This pampered life is soon disrupted by Jake, a determined and somewhat eccentric turkey, who believes Reggie is destined for a greater purpose.

The Time-Traveling Mission to Plymouth

Jake, fueled by a vision from the ‘Great Turkey,’ kidnaps Reggie and reveals his plan: to travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving and prevent turkeys from ever becoming a holiday tradition. They infiltrate a government facility and commandeer an experimental time machine named S.T.E.V.E., voiced with characteristic gravitas by George Takei. Their journey takes them to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. They are immediately thrust into a conflict with colonial hunters led by Myles Standish. However, they find refuge with a tribe of native turkeys led by Chief Broadbeak and his daughter Jenny, who becomes a romantic interest for Reggie.

Clash of Cultures and the Destruction of the Weapons Shack

As Reggie and Jake integrate with the native turkeys, they learn of the precarious situation the turkeys face due to the encroaching settlers. Jake and Ranger, Broadbeak’s son, scout the settlers’ camp and discover their plans for Thanksgiving. Reggie and Jenny, on the other hand, work together to disarm the settlers’ traps. Jake, desperate to prove himself, devises a plan to destroy the settlers’ weapons. The plan is partially successful. They manage to detonate the gunpowder, destroying the weapons shack, but Jake leaves a trail of gunpowder that leads back to the turkeys’ hideout, putting them in grave danger. The settlers retaliate, capturing many turkeys, including Chief Broadbeak, who tragically dies during the assault. Jenny assumes leadership of the remaining turkeys.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Reggie (Owen Wilson): A smart and initially fearful turkey who becomes the ‘pardoned turkey’ and is later recruited to travel back in time to change Thanksgiving.
• Jake (Woody Harrelson): The zealous president of the Turkeys Liberation Front who believes he is on a mission from the ‘Great Turkey’ to erase turkey from the first Thanksgiving.
• Jenny (Amy Poehler): A courageous and intelligent turkey and daughter of Chief Broadbeak, who becomes the new chief and a love interest for Reggie.
• Chief Broadbeak (Keith David): The wise and protective leader of the native turkeys in 1621 who struggles to protect his clan from the settlers.
• Myles Standish (Colm Meaney): The determined and ruthless leader of the colonial hunters who relentlessly pursues the turkeys.
• S.T.E.V.E. (George Takei): The A.I. software and time machine that Jake and Reggie commandeer to travel back to the first Thanksgiving.
• Pizza Dude (Scott Mosier): The pizza delivery guy who is brought back to the First Thanksgiving to convince the settlers and Indians to eat pizza instead of turkey.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jake: “We’re going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkeys off the menu.” – Jake states the movie’s absurd but central mission to Reggie, setting the plot in motion.
• Jake: “That’s right, we’re going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkeys off the menu!” – Jake reiterates their mission for emphasis and comedic effect, directly to the audience.
• S.T.E.V.E.: “Calculating… Destination locked: Plymouth Colony, 1621.” – S.T.E.V.E. announces their time-travel destination, a pivotal moment in the adventure.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $55,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $55,750,480
• Worldwide Gross: $110,387,072

💥 Free Birds Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went in expecting a goofy kids’ movie and that’s exactly what I got! The plot is ridiculous, but I honestly laughed a lot at the absurdity. Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson were hilarious as the turkeys, and George Takei as the time machine STEVE was a stroke of genius. The ending with the pizza was so dumb, but I can’t help but admit that I thought it was funny. If you’re looking for some light-hearted, brainless fun for the whole family, ‘Free Birds’ might just hit the spot. Don’t expect a masterpiece, just go in ready to laugh.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Families looking for lighthearted Thanksgiving-themed entertainment.”
  • “Fans of Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson’s voice acting.”
  • “Children who enjoy slapstick humor and colorful animation.”
  • “Viewers who appreciate films that playfully bend historical events.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild cartoon violence (chasing, explosions).”
  • “Some potentially confusing time-travel elements.”
  • “Historically inaccurate portrayal of the first Thanksgiving.”
  • “Potentially triggering content for those highly sensitive about animal welfare.”

Professional Reviews

• Showbiz Junkies: “While ‘Free Birds’ has bright animation and energetic voice acting, its reliance on predictable plot and overdone humor leaves it feeling like a missed opportunity. The film provides enough silly entertainment for younger viewers, but lacks the depth and wit to fully engage older audiences.
• AniMat’s Reviews: “Jimmy Hayward’s ‘Free Birds’ is full of flaws, it is quite dumb, has no heart, it is full of bad jokes and product placement is at its worst!

Audience Reactions

Kids loved the silly humor and bright animation.: Many viewers found it entertaining for kids despite its predictable plot.

George Takei as S.T.E.V.E. was a memorable and hilarious addition.: Viewers appreciated the fun voice acting from the whole cast.

Overall Consensus: Critics and audiences are divided. While kids may enjoy the goofy humor, many found the plot and jokes uninspired. Still, some appreciate the film’s light-hearted fun and energetic voice acting.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “John Kricfalusi, creator of ‘The Ren & Stimpy Show’, contributed character designs and sequences early in production, though none were used in the final film.”
• “The film uses tongue-in-cheek humor, opening with a disclaimer stating that it is ‘loosely based on historical events’ except for the talking turkeys, which are ‘totally real.'”

🖥️ How to Watch Free Birds?

Free Birds is currently available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV, where you may have the option to rent or purchase it. Check your local listings for television broadcasts. Physical copies (DVD, Blu-ray) may also be available for purchase from retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Free Birds, you might like these similar films:

• Chicken Run (2000): Shares a similar theme of poultry escaping their fate as food through wit and teamwork.
• Back to the Future (1985): Features time travel as a central plot device and the altering of historical events.
• Barnyard (2006): Another animated film centered around barnyard animals and their comical antics, similar focus on silly humor.

🛒 Free Birds Related Products

• Free Birds [Blu-ray]: Enjoy the full high-definition experience of Free Birds. Perfect for family movie night or kids entertainment.
• Free Birds: Save Thanksgiving! (Mobile Game): Engage in a fast-paced time-travel adventure with Reggie and Jake to change the course of history. Solve challenging puzzles and outsmart Pilgrim. Downloadable on Android and iOS. Requires in-app purchase to fully unlock the game.
• Free Birds: Official Movie Soundtrack: Includes the original scores and featured songs from the film. Perfect for reliving your favorite movie moments. Stream it on Amazon Music.
• Free Birds Collector’s Edition Turkey Plush Set: Commemorate your love for ‘Free Birds’ with these plushies. Made from high quality materials. Ideal gift for young fans and collectors.

🎧 Soundtrack

Free Birds features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Up Around The Bend” – performed by Social Distortion

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The movie where they go BACK IN TIME TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING TO GET TURKEYS OFF THE MENU

Ever wondered if ‘Free Birds’ is actually any good? Schaffrillas breaks down everything that works (and doesn’t!) in this hilariously bizarre movie, so you don’t have to watch it yourself… unless you want to, of course!

if i voiced everyone in free birds

Okay, this guy voices *every* character in ‘Free Birds’ in just 26 seconds, and it’s surprisingly hilarious! Honestly, it’s a quick and funny take that you’ll appreciate even if you hate the movie.

The Bizarre Story Behind FREEBIRDS!!!

Did you know ‘Free Birds’ was originally called ‘Time Turkeys’?! This video uncovers all the weird and wonderful secrets behind the making of this animated oddity. It’s more interesting than you might think!

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