‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ Features Palisadian Voices

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Upcoming American computer-animated science fiction comedy “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” has not one but two ties to Pacific Palisades: Current resident Conan O’Brien and former resident Blake Griffin both have roles in the film.

“A robot apocalypse put the brakes on their cross-country road trip,” according to a synopsis on Netflix. “Now it’s up to the Mitchells—the world’s weirdest family—to save the human race.”

The voice cast includes Abbi Jacobson as Katie Mitchell (an aspiring filmmaker), Mike Rianda as her brother Aaron, Danny McBride as her father Rick and Maya Rudolph as their mother and Rick’s wife Linda.

Eric André voices Dr. Mark Bowman (a scientist and founder of PAL labs), Olivia Colman as PAL (a virtual assistant and the leader of the tech uprising) and Doug the Pug as Monchi, the Mitchell family’s pet dog.

“When Katie Mitchell, a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of her dreams, her plans to meet ‘her people’ at college are upended when her nature-loving dad Rick determines the whole family should drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time,” Sony Pictures Animations shared in a statement about the movie. “Katie and Rick are joined by the rest of the family, including Katie’s wildly positive mom Linda, her quirky little brother Aaron and the family’s delightfully chubby pug Monchi for the ultimate family road trip.”

The Mitchells’ plans are interrupted by a tech uprising.

“All around the world, the electronic devices people love—from phones, to appliances, to an innovative new line of personal robots—decide it’s time to take over,” the synopsis continued. “With the help of two friendly malfunctioning robots, the Mitchells will have to get past their problems and work together to save each other and the world.”

Griffin will voice a “sleek robot from PAL Labs” and O’Brien’s role remained undisclosed as the Post went to print.

The star-studded cast also features the voices of Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, Charlyne Yi, Sasheer Zamata, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Elle Mills, Alex Hirsch, Griffin McElroy and Jay Pharoah.

“The Mitchells vs. the Machines” is directed by Michael Rianda, and written by Rianda and Jeff Rowe. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht are billed as producers.

The film’s theatrical release was canceled due to COVID-19, but it will be digitally released by Netflix starting April 30. The film is rated PG with a run time of one hour and 53 minutes.