by Avalon Neal
“We are going to drive you to school on a cross-country road trip as a family!” exclaimed
Katie Mitchell’s father to his disconnected and indifferent daughter. Being stuck in a car
with your family on a cross-country road trip may send shivers down your spine as it
does mine (no offense, Dad). In the 2021 animated comedy, The Mitchells vs. The
Machines, the film embarks on reimagining the traditional family road-trip trope with its
own unique twist. Director Michael Rianda is able to construct personal and sensitive
underlying themes through his creative work that all age groups can relate to. Through
Rianda’s hyperactive usage of modern media and technology, along with one of the
most authentic and creative screenplays based upon generational gaps, The Mitchells
vs. The Machines stands out among animated films as it values itself with a fresh
perspective and complex characters.
Katie Mitchell’s father to his disconnected and indifferent daughter. Being stuck in a car
with your family on a cross-country road trip may send shivers down your spine as it
does mine (no offense, Dad). In the 2021 animated comedy, The Mitchells vs. The
Machines, the film embarks on reimagining the traditional family road-trip trope with its
own unique twist. Director Michael Rianda is able to construct personal and sensitive
underlying themes through his creative work that all age groups can relate to. Through
Rianda’s hyperactive usage of modern media and technology, along with one of the
most authentic and creative screenplays based upon generational gaps, The Mitchells
vs. The Machines stands out among animated films as it values itself with a fresh
perspective and complex characters.
The wildly creative and outspoken teenager, Katie Mitchell, is thrilled to attend her
dream school to pursue a career in filmmaking. Throughout her life, she has created
short films alongside her brother, Aaron Mitchell, and her pet pug, Monchi. With her
creative drive and an exceptional taste for storytelling, she dreams of being involved in
the film industry alongside people who value and love the same things as her.
Nevertheless, a strong disconnection is displayed between technologically savvy Katie
and her nature-loving father, Rick, as they cannot cohere with one another due to their
opposite nature. As Katie is thrilled to leave for college and start this new chapter in her
life, her father makes one last attempt at repairing his chaotic family by deciding to drive
across the country to drop Katie off at film school. This decision made Katie furious as
she was trying to get away as fast as possible. Still, through this slight change of plans,
the Mitchells Family was able to illustrate to audiences the beauty and intricacies of a
father/daughter relationship and the deep-rooted love that families provide.
across the country to drop Katie off at film school. This decision made Katie furious as
she was trying to get away as fast as possible. Still, through this slight change of plans,
the Mitchells Family was able to illustrate to audiences the beauty and intricacies of a
father/daughter relationship and the deep-rooted love that families provide.
Despite their differences, Katie and Rick came together by understanding each other’s experiences and passions. On the surface, this animated movie is a fun time about destructive robots and an over-reliance on technology in society. However, at the film’s heart, it stands as a beautiful testament to communication and family relations and shows how far you would go for the ones you love the most.
While watching The Mitchells vs. The Machines, I couldn’t help but see myself in the
eyes of Katie Mitchell. Like Katie, I was a closeted film nerd who was thrilled to study
film and digital media at one of my dream schools and be able to connect with people
who had the same interests as me. For a large portion of my life, I gave into the external
anxieties everyone faces while pursuing a career in the arts. Yet, Katie never gives in to
these fears and continues to pursue what she truly loves. She continues to be
unapologetically herself and confident in her abilities.
In a similar fashion, my dad reminds me a lot of Katie’s own father: practical, loves to fix things, loves nature, and thinks I should be on my phone less. The generational gap between my father and me is substantial, as I have to show my dad how to use his phone from time to time, and he still gets frustrated when I’ve been scrolling through TikTok for too long. In spite of that, my dad and I continue to learn more about each other and understand each other’s passions and points of view. Even though my Dad and Rick might not fully understand what Katie and I are studying as film majors, they will continue loving and supporting us through our endeavors.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a family-fun movie suitable for all ages. Moreover, this animated film effectively addresses the generational gap between young individuals and their parents and how even their addiction to technology cannot separate the love they have for each other.
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