Free Birds

In the hilarious animated film Free Birds, we are introduced to Reggie (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson), two turkeys from different walks of life. Reggie is a pampered, high-class turkey from the big city, while Jake is a rough-around-the-edges, small-town fowl. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, they share one thing in common: they both have a distaste for being served for the Thanksgiving meal. Their dislike for being consumed leads them to seek out help from a turkey named Wild Card (voiced by Amy Poehler), who just happens to be a master of stealing food from the local market. Wild Card is the first person to tell them about an eccentric scientist named Dr. Phillips (voiced by Keith David) who has figured out a way to travel through time using a top-secret device. The two turkeys form an unlikely alliance with Wild Card to break into Dr. Phillips' laboratory, where they steal his time-traveling turkey-shaped contraption. After accidentally traveling back in time to 1621, they find themselves in the middle of the very first Thanksgiving, where they meet a young and enthusiastic William Bradford (voiced by George Takei). Reggie and Jake soon learn that they have the power to change the course of history by convincing the Native Americans to not invite the English colonist. The turkeys' goal is to save their species by eradicating the tradition of serving turkeys on Thanksgiving. However, things become complicated as Reggie and Jake have different ideas about how to change the course of events. Reggie wants to blend in with the English while Jake wants to get to know the Native Americans. The disagreement sets them apart, and in order to fix the timeline, they must work together to convince the Native Americans to not serve turkey at the feast. As the story progresses, we see Reggie and Jake form an unlikely bond over their shared experiences. Reggie learns to appreciate Jake's humble nature, and Jake comes to admire Reggie's wit and sophistication. Along the way, they encounter a number of obstacles, including fierce hunters and treacherous terrain. One of the most compelling aspects of Free Birds is its creative take on American history. The film does an admirable job of humanizing the Native Americans and the early English colonists, portraying them as real people with complex emotions and motivations. While it is still a lighthearted animated film at its core, it manages to tackle some serious themes in a way that is both entertaining and educational. Ultimately, Reggie and Jake are able to successfully change the course of history, and the Native Americans celebrate the harvest with a feast of venison and vegetables instead of turkey. As the two friends prepare to return to their own time, they find themselves saying goodbye to a group of newfound friends and the people who helped them achieve their goal. The film concludes with a heartwarming moment of reflection as Reggie and Jake share a moment of quiet appreciation for the adventure they went on together. Despite being different, they learned that it doesn't matter where they come from, but what matters is the bond they formed along the way. The movie's final message is an inspiring one: friendship can conquer even the smallest of differences, and that sometimes, all it takes is a little team effort to change the world.