Review: Conni -- Mystery of the Crane is fine-feathered family fun

There's a line in Conni -- Mystery of the Crane, the second feature-length adaptation of the popular book series by Liane Schneider and Eva Wenzel-Bürger, that will stick with me. As Conni and her friends argue about who gets to feed cat food to the injured crane they're nursing back to health, Conni's grandpa (who's low-key a stud) gamely quips, "Everyone will get a turn feeding the wrong food to the wild animal." It's one of the good-natured jokes that kind of underlines what this movie is: a simple, family-friendly story that will surely make you smile.

The Conni franchise sells millions of books every year, has been translated into dozens of languages, and has been adapted into a TV show alongside these movies (the first movie is available to stream on Tubi in the States). In the vein of Fly Away Home (a childhood favorite of mine) and recent hits like The Wild Robot and Migration, this new movie is my introduction to the series, and it's easy to see why it's such a sensation. Here we have a fun story with all kinds of wacky antics and plenty of life lessons. There's a strong educational bent to it, with various characters defining words and explaining things about the world. It's the kind of movie I imagine parents crave for their kids: easy to watch, not noisy and obnoxious, has some meat on its bones to help steer young viewers in the right direction. 

And it's a wonderful to look at. The animation blends 2D and 3D sensibilities into a style that reminded me a bit of Disney's Paperman. The characters are all super cute (except the cop, who is stacked, like curvy hottie alert, it's kinda crazy). Klaus, the titular crane, is especially adorable. His face is so expressive, and the way he moves is appropriately elegant and a little frazzled. After all, he's an injured wild animal being taken into a strange new home.

The film revolves around Conni, who's spending the weekend at home with her grandpa and her friends Anna and Simon, while the rest of her family goes off to help an uncle with a broken leg. Yes, helping the injured runs in the family. Conni and friends are awoken in the middle of the night by Klaus's cries, and they quickly decide to take him in. Thanks to a broken tracker that's strapped around the bird, Conni makes contact with Renata, who wants to help Klaus return to the skies, since it's migration season and the rest of the cranes are already on their way.

Meanwhile, the persnickety next-door neighbor Mr. Oswald is on high alert. He maintains a pristine garden full of gorgeous roses, which he grew for his wife in her dying days, when leaving the house became too difficult for her. He has PTSD from birds ruining his botanical masterwork, so he's keen to keep any and all animals (especially feathered ones) far away from his premises.

Part of this film's charm is how small it stays. It doesn't feel the need to put Conni, Klaus, and the rest into over-the-top situations, instead going about its business in a fairly grounded manner. Sure, there's a point where Klaus is doing tricks in a skate park while riding in a baby stroller, but that's the exception that proves the rule.

I also love any movie where a group of kids kind of runs circles around the adults in their lives, including the experts. Here, Conni and her friends benefit from the knowledge that's imparted to them by Renata and the doofus who runs the nearby bird sanctuary, but ultimately, it's up to them to get Klaus to safety, and to help him return to the skies. It's a cute, pint-sized power fantasy, the kind of story where kids can easily imagine themselves feeding cat treats to a wayward crane, and figuring out how to navigate difficult weather and traffic situations.

And while the film centers on this unlikely friendship, it also make it very clear that kids should not interact with wild animals in this way, and that it's not good for such creatures to feel safe around humans. There's a good balance between telling a fun story and making sure kids understand that they shouldn't try this at home.

Something else kids shouldn't try at home: being friends with Simon. Of Conni's little trio, he is the wet blanket, the black hole, the absolute drag. He is always ready with an ill-timed joke, a bad suggestion, or an unhelpful remark. Conni and (especially) Anna deserve better!

Conni -- Mystery of the Crane is now playing in German theaters. Hopefully, it'll at least make it to streaming in the US. It's a charming winner that's perfect for a family movie night.