I'm not familiar with Lois Lowry's "The Willoughbys" and this is the first time I met the genius twins both named Barnaby (Seán Cullen), the music enthusiast named Jane (Alessia Cara) and the very bossy eldest named Tim (Will Forte). Together, as the Willboughly, they remind me of "Hotel Transylvania" characters for having the same quirky energy and wit, and a sense of "kinship" to one another despite their glaring differences. Though the story is afar from each other, however, if you enjoyed the silliness in that Adam Sandler movie, you will enjoy watching "The Willoughbys" as well; all thanks to the consistent and strong vocal performances of the casts and Kris Pearn's lightweight direction.
Storywise, "The Willoughbys" starts very rough but it, fortunately, pick itself up and did not turn out as grim as it should be. The movie begins to turn for the best upon the introduction of two colorful characters, Linda (Maya Rudolph), the nanny, and Commander Melanoff (Terry Crews), a candy factory owner; who both offers strong moral anchors on the story. Through these two, the Willoughbys realized what a family should be, how it felt to have one, and the value of having one another as siblings. The movie showcases the beauty of adoption and the many lessons about siblingship and parenthood.
However, parents should keep in mind that this movie tackles topics such as family disownment and abandonment. Such sensitive topics should require parents to supervise their children. "The Willoughbys" might've been an easy film to swallow if you are an adult but it, sometimes, send off negative messages. For that reason, it's advisable to watch this film with your kids because it will certainly spark meaningful discussions.
4/5
