Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Keep Moving Forward

Having just seen Wall-E, I looked in vain for Pixar in the credits on this film. John Lasseter's name is on it, but other than that, no sign of Luxo Jr., the little hopping Pixar lamp. This is a bit of an odd duck film because it missed its curtain time, unveiling late, and slipped under the radar. That said, the story line is as complex and developed as Wall-E, the film is so good I wished it were longer, and the DVD is graced with compelling extras.

You can read the story anywhere, but the book it came from is by William Joyce, also the creative pen behind Playtime Disney's Rolie Polie Olie (sp.). The Robinson look is very different than that, but it's got the same mixing of traditional retro design with imaginative take-offs. Wilbur Robinson just about steals the show, and the voice acting reminds me of another quality animated sleeper, Titan A.E.. Titan was the Bluth studio's swan song, and failed, as did Warner's The Iron Giant, merely because only Disney can market animation. That said, Disney almost couldn't, or didn't market Meet the Robinsons (despite the fact that the space/ time travel ship and the city would make great toys, and it's not like Disney to miss a licensing opportunity.

The extras really make the DVD. The best is the intervew with the director. The music is varied and strong enough to make the soundtrack stand on its own. There's also a history of inventions featurette that has the feel of '50s documentaries of Disneyland. It's got the same mix of science fact and speculation as earlier non-fiction segments that ran on the Disney TV shows, for instance the three space programs on the Tommorowland Disney Treasures set (which spurred our own space program). The last of the three is the best animated, but perpetuates the myth that Medievals thought the world was flat. This invention featurette admits that Galileo didn't invent the telescope, but otherwise plays fast and loose, giving Edison credit for inventing the light bulb, Philo T. Farnsworth the T.V., Bell the telephone, etc. In most cases, these men were perfecting ideas that many inventors were working on. In Edison's case, although he was a tireless inventor, he often stole his employees' and associates' ideas, particularly those of Nikola Tesla and Steinmetz (the brains behind General Electric).

All that is generally known, but it would be nice to have a bit more homework behind the Disney version. That said, in the realm of imagination the big D is unsurpassed. The video game looks quite good, and I'm all ready for the Robinson ride. The Robinsonian motto "Keep Moving Forward" even comes from Walt himself, as two quotes at the close of the film make clear. In this regard the film's motto recalls the song in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: "From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success".

Dexter's Laboratory likely sparked the current interest in whiz kid protagonists, but it's nice to see so much wit, enthusiasm, and, I think I can say, love put into a family film. In my view, the "G" rating stands for "great!" September 2, 2008

"Keep moving forward"

"Meet the Robinsons", directed by Stephen Anderson, is an excellent film for kids, and also for the kind of adults that love good animated movies. I am one of them :)

The main character is Lewis, a 12-year old orphan that is a science whiz. Lewis' biggest dream is to have a family of his own, but he hasn't been able to get adopted. When, after a particularly stinging rejection from a prospective family due to an experiment gone wrong, Lewis fails miserably at a science fair, his confidence is crushed and he ready to give up on science. Life has many surprises in store for him, though, among them a trip to the future and tons of new friends, that will teach him that, in order to achieve success, all you really need to do is keep moving forward.

On the whole, I can say that I really liked this quirky and engaging Disney movie. It is a family film with a very good message, that also happens to be lots of fun. Recommended...

Belen Alcat August 27, 2008

Still a lot of Fresh Ideas at Disney

With animated movies geared towards children it's real easy to fall into a rut. Be honest, don't most of the movies you see (animated), follow a same very basic plot. Even Disney as great as they are has repackaged the princess movie so many times if you've seen one, you've probably seen them all. It's just with Disney they do it so well, who cares.

But with Meet the Robinsons this is not some re-hash of some old idea. This one actually is orginal, and it's told very well.

I really liked this movie. I didn't come in with high hopes after watching Valient and Chicken Little, but I was surprised and happy to see Disney do a GREAT job telling a new and unique story.

The main characters are developed, and your children won't see the twist coming the first time they watch it. The music is great, especially Rob Thomas.

And the Bowler Hat Guy, is so different as the bad-guy I don't think Disney has ever done one like it. HE kind of reminds me of a male Cruella DeVille.

The gags with the hat are funny, especially with the T-rex.

This is a good movie, and unfortunately it will join the club of other pretty good movies that Disney has made that have been forgotten, mainly because they don't have that one song that everybody loves, or that one character that everybody thinks is adorable or pathetic, or whatever it is that draws people to some of these characters.

I say give it 10 years and nobody will remember this movie. Not because it was a bad movie, in fact it's a very good movie. It will be forgotten because I think for whatever reason the masses just aren't interested. And that's a shame. Get this movie and watch it with the family you won't regret it. August 2, 2008

Highly underrated

Great little movie. I'm surprised it didn't get better reviews. Kids and adults liked it. Check it out, good addition to your movie library. June 17, 2008

Not very enjoyable for adults

I suppose this is a good one for the kids 10 and under but for adults it is barley bearable. I enjoyed Monster House and Ratatoie much more than this one. June 9, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...