Free Birds

This animated buddy-caper serves up time-traveling turkeys who are determined to change history and keep themselves and their ancestors off the Pilgrims' menu on the first Thanksgiving in the New World. When astute Reggie (voiced by Owen Wilson) tries to warn his free-range flock what's in store for them, they shun him as “anti-corn,” but when they discover that he's right, he's tossed out of the coop. Fortunately, Reggie is rescued by the plucky daughter of the President of the United States, who designates him as this year's “pardoned turkey.” While languishing at Camp David, Reggie is kidnapped by renegade Jake (Woody Harrelson), who convinces him that it's their destiny to make use of S.T.E.V.E.—an egg-shaped, government-built time machine (voiced by Star Trek vet George Takei)—for a Turkey Freedom Front trip back to Plymouth Colony, circa November 1621. Upon landing, the toms confront gun-toting colonists, but they're saved from the harvest feast by Jenny (Amy Poehler), the sassy daughter of Wild Turkey Chief Broadbeak (Keith David), which leads to a daring raid on the settlers' weapons and the arrival of Chuck E. Cheese pizza. Pixar animator-turned-director Jimmy Hayward presents fast-paced, meticulously choreographed action sequences, but the shallow script—stuffed with cranberry-sauced humor and gentle jabs against factory farming—lacks the inherent cleverness and fun of the similarly fowl-themed Chicken Run. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the “Shake a Tail Feather” music video, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a “Talking Turkey” segment with composer Dominic Lewis (7 min.), the production segments “Animating Free Birds: The Main Course” (5 min.), “Winging It: Animators in Action” (5 min.), and “Birds Flipping History” (2 min.), as well as bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package—on Blu-ray—for an unremarkable family film.] (S. Granger)