Meet the Robinsons
2.5/4
Starring (voices): Daniel Henson/Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman, Stephen J. Anderson, Matthew Josten, Angela Bassett
Rated G
The problem with "Meet the Robinsons" is not a lack of original ideas, endearing characters or successful humor. Those are in abundance. Rather, it's from poor storytelling. This is not a deep or complicated story, but director Stephen J. Anderson lacks the skill to make this plot pay off like it should. It feels rushed and poorly focused.
Lewis (Henson/Fry) is a genius inventor. Like, futuristic level stuff. But he's also an orphan and his passion for science doesn't endear him to many prospective parents. Lewis becomes convinced that his birth mother is out there and still wants him, but no one knows who she is. So he invents a machine that can play back forgotten memories. But just when he's going to show it off, his project is sabotaged by a shady individual known as Boiler Hat Guy (Anderson), who for unspecified reasons wants the invention for himself. Trying to stop him is Wilbur (Singerman), a boy from the future. Lewis doesn't believe him, but Wilbur is actually telling the truth. So they go to the future, but crash the time machine. Now they have to fix it and prevent Bowler Hat Guy from stealing Lewis's invention.
The story is thin and not very well told. What should be a rousing adventure feels like a TV movie hurtling forward without a clear sense of direction with the filmmakers desperately trying to keep it afloat. But that's not the film's focus. "Meet the Robinsons" is overflowing with zany characters and jokes. Some of them are amusing (such as the Rat Pack consisting of trained frogs) and more than a few are hilarious (basically anything with Bowler Hat Guy is laugh aloud funny). Appealing as these bits are, they drown out the film's narrative and the message of perseverance that the film is trying to convey.
At least the characters are likable. Lewis is endearing as the geek who can't catch a break. It's hard not to feel for him. The voice actors Daniel Henson and Jordan Fry are excellent (I didn't know the character was voiced by two different people until I looked it up on iMDb). As heartfelt as his situation is, Anderson dwells too long on it, and it hurts the film's pacing. The film takes too long to get going. Ironically, Lewis is the least interesting character in the movie, and he sets a high bar. Wesley Singerman is fabulous as Wilbur, creating a best friend/older brother dynamic with Lewis. They have a lot of chemistry.
The true scene stealer is Bowler Hat Guy, voiced by the film's director. Bowler Hat Guy is as inept as they come. Complete with a twirling mustache, he too short-sighted to be threatening, but his bumbling antics are very funny. He almost deserves his own movie.
For a reported $150 million, you'd think that they could have used animation that didn't look so cheap. The characters look plastic and their movements are awkward. Where did all the money go? If there is a case to be made against bloated movie budgets and excess, this would be it. There are some inventive visuals and sight gags, but overall it looks like something you would find on TV. Disney can, and should, do better.
Rating "Meet the Robinsons" is a tough call. There are plenty of laudable qualities to the film, including endearing characters and a hilarious villain. But the cheap animation and the lack of a strong narrative makes it difficult to recommend for anyone who doesn't have small children.
Starring (voices): Daniel Henson/Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman, Stephen J. Anderson, Matthew Josten, Angela Bassett
Rated G
The problem with "Meet the Robinsons" is not a lack of original ideas, endearing characters or successful humor. Those are in abundance. Rather, it's from poor storytelling. This is not a deep or complicated story, but director Stephen J. Anderson lacks the skill to make this plot pay off like it should. It feels rushed and poorly focused.
Lewis (Henson/Fry) is a genius inventor. Like, futuristic level stuff. But he's also an orphan and his passion for science doesn't endear him to many prospective parents. Lewis becomes convinced that his birth mother is out there and still wants him, but no one knows who she is. So he invents a machine that can play back forgotten memories. But just when he's going to show it off, his project is sabotaged by a shady individual known as Boiler Hat Guy (Anderson), who for unspecified reasons wants the invention for himself. Trying to stop him is Wilbur (Singerman), a boy from the future. Lewis doesn't believe him, but Wilbur is actually telling the truth. So they go to the future, but crash the time machine. Now they have to fix it and prevent Bowler Hat Guy from stealing Lewis's invention.
The story is thin and not very well told. What should be a rousing adventure feels like a TV movie hurtling forward without a clear sense of direction with the filmmakers desperately trying to keep it afloat. But that's not the film's focus. "Meet the Robinsons" is overflowing with zany characters and jokes. Some of them are amusing (such as the Rat Pack consisting of trained frogs) and more than a few are hilarious (basically anything with Bowler Hat Guy is laugh aloud funny). Appealing as these bits are, they drown out the film's narrative and the message of perseverance that the film is trying to convey.
At least the characters are likable. Lewis is endearing as the geek who can't catch a break. It's hard not to feel for him. The voice actors Daniel Henson and Jordan Fry are excellent (I didn't know the character was voiced by two different people until I looked it up on iMDb). As heartfelt as his situation is, Anderson dwells too long on it, and it hurts the film's pacing. The film takes too long to get going. Ironically, Lewis is the least interesting character in the movie, and he sets a high bar. Wesley Singerman is fabulous as Wilbur, creating a best friend/older brother dynamic with Lewis. They have a lot of chemistry.
The true scene stealer is Bowler Hat Guy, voiced by the film's director. Bowler Hat Guy is as inept as they come. Complete with a twirling mustache, he too short-sighted to be threatening, but his bumbling antics are very funny. He almost deserves his own movie.
For a reported $150 million, you'd think that they could have used animation that didn't look so cheap. The characters look plastic and their movements are awkward. Where did all the money go? If there is a case to be made against bloated movie budgets and excess, this would be it. There are some inventive visuals and sight gags, but overall it looks like something you would find on TV. Disney can, and should, do better.
Rating "Meet the Robinsons" is a tough call. There are plenty of laudable qualities to the film, including endearing characters and a hilarious villain. But the cheap animation and the lack of a strong narrative makes it difficult to recommend for anyone who doesn't have small children.
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