The Willoughbys (2020)

The Willoughbys is that rare family animated film that feels genuinely original: a candy-colored, storybook oddity with a mischievous cat narrator and a visual style that looks like a vintage picture book came to life. Its humor has a sharp, slightly twisted edge, but it’s anchored by a surprisingly big heart, letting the laughs land while the characters quietly earn your affection. Will Forte and Maya Rudolph give the kind of voice performances that make even absurd moments feel human, and the screenplay keeps finding clever ways to turn “old-fashioned” notions into something modern and tender. It won’t be for everyone—its premise is darkly comic and the tone can be delightfully weird—but if you’re in the mood for an offbeat, warm, imaginative ride about building your own family, it’s an easy recommendation.

The Willoughbys is clearly trying to be a quirky, old-storybook-style satire about found family, with bright animation, a fast-talking cat narrator, and a steady stream of gags. The problem is it often feels like it’s sprinting through plot points rather than building them, so the tone can swing from dark (kids abandoned by awful parents) to goofy candy-colored chaos without much breathing room. If you like your family movies warm, grounded, and emotionally smooth, this one may come off frantic and oddly grim beneath the whimsy. That said, the voice cast is game, the visual style is distinctive, and if you’re into offbeat, slightly meaner fairy-tale humor, you’ll probably have a better time with it.