animated film
“Out of the Pond”: Duck family goes on a journey
A scene from the film “Out of the Pond”. photo
© -/Universal Pictures/dpa
In “Out of the Pond,” a family of ducks sets off on a journey south that turns into a real adventure. Colorful and with great images, the film tells of friendship, courage and solidarity.
If duck dad Mack had his way, his family would probably stay at their beautiful pond forever. But mom Pam and the ducklings Dax and Gwen are starting to get too cramped there. They want to see more of the world. When migratory birds stop by them, they get the idea to follow to draw Jamaica. And even if that’s not an option for Mack at first, the family soon sets off on a journey that will have a lasting impact on them.
In the animated film “Out of the Pond” Benjamin Renner tells the story of a family that throws itself into an adventure, sees tons of new things, learns solidarity and gains courage. From their idyllic pond, the ducks come to bustling New York, which seems incredibly dangerous to them with its numerous skyscrapers and fast cars.
They make unusual friendships with storks, pigeons, geese and, last but not least, a parrot who wants to help them find his Jamaican home. But they also have to be careful on their journey. Because while the female stork, who initially seemed so threatening, really means well, a New York chef has his sights set on the ducks and their friends and spares no effort in hunting them down.
The film from the Illumination studio, which also animated the hit “Despicable Me,” invites you to laugh, be amazed and get excited. The entertaining travel story shows that it can be worth jumping over your shadow and that you can achieve great things with perseverance and creativity.
It is unfortunate, however, that the makers did not give mother duck Pam and daughter Gwen more space and shading like Mack and Dax. Even after Pam’s urgent requests, the patriarch Mack only decides to set off on the trip after being persuaded by a somewhat strange uncle. Gwen saves the ducks from a somewhat awkward situation that Mack has gotten them into, but in the conservative family structure, the man ultimately has the say.
Nevertheless, “Out of the Pond” remains successful entertainment and impresses with numerous animations of breathtaking landscapes. In German, Elyas M’Barek and Nazan Eckes, among others, lend their voices to the ducks. Whether the family really makes it to Jamaica can be seen in cinemas from December 21st.
Out of the Pond, USA 2023, 92 minutes, FSK 0, by Benjamin Renner, with the voices of Elyas M’Barek, Nazan Eckes