'Storks' Wolfpack Minivan Is Comedy Gold

CARS.COM — I have three kids, so the words “movie night” mean something different now than they did in my kid-free (read: carefree) years. Mostly, those two words signal that I will — yet again this Friday night — be letting it all go with Elsa and company watching a movie we’ve seen more times than the frozen kingdom of Arendelle gets hit with snow.

Don’t get me wrong, “Frozen’s” message of strong girls solving big problems together is a great one … the first 10 times it’s delivered. After that, it’s tinged by an icy blue layer of annoyance, which is why I was thrilled to add a new movie to the rotation: “Storks.” And while its message is similarly uplifting (embracing diversity, persevering against the odds), it takes a few dark turns and has strong comedy chops (read: more interesting to watch if you’re over the age of 7).

My favorite part — which I made the kids watch a couple of times despite their eyerolls — cleverly speaks to the many hats I wear as a mom, auto journalist and car-seat safety advocate. Enter the wolfpack minivan, deftly — and hilariously — created to both kidnap and protect the baby they’re pursuing (wait, what?!). The wolves pile together to create the family mobile and a car seat, complete with wolf arm straps and a wolf hand chest plate.

While the thoughtful — though villainous — crew gets an A for effort for rear facing this must-have safety “seat,” the overall execution is more of a D, falling flat with straps (OK, furry arms) that are both too high and too loose, and an angle that isn’t quite right for an infant. The scene, however, gets an A+ for keeping this mom chuckling (without wine) and saving her from a movie night full of bad Disney song karaoke.