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Review #437 of 365
Movie Review of Meet The Robinsons (2007) [G] 102 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Where Viewed: AMC Theatres Flatiron Crossing 14, Broomfield, CO
When 1st Seen: 30 March 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: Stephen J. Anderson (Journey Beneath the Sea)
Screenplay by: Jon Bernstein (Beautiful) and Michelle Bochner ("Will & Grace") based on the book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce
Featured Voice Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Angela Bassett (Akeelah and the Bee) • Daniel Hansen (Stuart Little 2) • Jordan Fry (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) • Matthew Josten (Chicken Little) • Laurie Metcalf (Beer League) • Harland Williams (Employee of the Month) • Paul Butcher (The Number 23) • Wesley Singerman (The Nutcracker and the Mouseking) • Stephen J. Anderson (The Emperor's New Groove) • Nicole Sullivan ("Kim Possible") • Tom Selleck (Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise)
Soundtrack for Meet the Robinsons: Download now from 
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
First, this is not a Disney•Pixar animated film like Cars or the upcoming Ratatouille though it may slightly resemble The Incredibles (a Pixar film) to some. Not that this means anything negative or bad, it's just a fact. This is really a Stephen J. Anderson film based on the short book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce. The film's story is about an orphaned boy genius inventor named Lewis (voiced by Daniel Hansen and Jorday Fry) who cannot seem to get adopted despite the 150+ interviews arranged by the orphanage's matron, Mildred (voiced to soothing perfection by Angela Bassett). His roommate, not to be confused with best friend, Michael "Goob" Yagoobian (voiced by Matthew Josten), doesn't help him much but does tolerate his late-hour brainstorms during which he builds his gadgets like an automatic peanut butter and jelly sandwich maker. On the day of revelation of his greatest invention, a memory scanning device to help anyone remember lost information which he conceives as a way of remembering his birth mother on the day she left him at the orphanage, he is paid a visit by Wilbur Robinson (voiced by Wesley Singerman) who claims he's from the future and on a mission to protect him from a villain in a bowler hat whom he logically calls, "Bowler Hat Man". Ah, yes, some of this story is actually true. The Bowler Hat Man has come from the future to ruin Lewis's life by stealing his invention and claiming them for his own. In the meantime, though, Lewis will need proof of Wilbur's claims, so he challenges Wilbur to take him to the future in his time machine, which he does. Once in the future, all sorts of chaotic events happen including the crashing of the time machine vehicle that must be repaired in order to return Lewis to the past and restore the timeline that is in constant danger every moment Lewis remains in the future. Wilbur's family, it turns out, though is the family for which Lewis has always dreamed. It's full of zany characters, a wonderful mother, and all the love he's been missing his whole life.
For much of the film, the story seems borderline pointless and misguided. The characters seem overdrawn, confusing, and hapless. Poor Lewis endures disappointment after disappointment. There's this mysterious Bowler Hat madman trying to sabotage everything good in his life. Honestly, there seems no rhyme nor reason to the calamities he faces. But, it turns out, that this is all a set up. The brilliant screen writers and director have planted all the seeds, such that a careful eye and deciphering mind will pick up the bread crumbs and, perhaps, solve the mysteries and uncover the clues to what's really going on. Worry not, if you don't figure it out, everything is revealed in spectacular fashion, for a very meaningful and poignant finale not to be spoiled here. It all hinges, however, on the mysterious Mr. Cornelius Robinson (voiced by Tom Selleck) and his incredible inventions. Until that point, though, I was worried this was bordering on becoming one of the worst Disney animated feature films ever when magically it all comes together. A wonderful quotation from Walt Disney himself—and I pay homage to him here as I think so many kids of the past two generations and beyond will never realize or make the connection that Walt Disney was a real person not just the name of a gigantic conglomeration of entertainment companies and theme parks—ties everything up with a bow. The only think missing from this remarkable film achievement were after-credit outtakes or a final charming scene. The CGI animation was brilliant. The people look incredible. Animating animals is one thing, but when you can give CGI people this much capacity for emotion, you have achieved something truly outstanding. The future world was rendered with delightful effects to wow the imaginations of the young and old. The voice cast was also worthy of the task lending their talents toward bringing realism to the emotions of the characters. Wesley Singerman, who does the voice of Wilbur, deserves strong praise for helping bring about one of the coolest teen characters ever rendered. As for the story, while it does end well, and the twists and secrets do redeem what seems like a not so great story for a while, it's important to note that the villainous bowler hat 'Doris' and her wearer the Bowler Hat man are very creepy—perhaps too much so for younger children. Some great and important lessons are learned by young Lewis from which all children can learn, but only if they pay close attention. This, of course, was the risk Stephen J. Anderson and the writers took in taking this story down its course. Will some of these lessons be lost? Will the 'reveal' be too quick for everything to sink in? The gamble, it seems, paid off, for most will be left satisfied and happy with the outcome.
For much of the film, the story seems borderline pointless and misguided. The characters seem overdrawn, confusing, and hapless. Poor Lewis endures disappointment after disappointment. There's this mysterious Bowler Hat madman trying to sabotage everything good in his life. Honestly, there seems no rhyme nor reason to the calamities he faces. But, it turns out, that this is all a set up. The brilliant screen writers and director have planted all the seeds, such that a careful eye and deciphering mind will pick up the bread crumbs and, perhaps, solve the mysteries and uncover the clues to what's really going on. Worry not, if you don't figure it out, everything is revealed in spectacular fashion, for a very meaningful and poignant finale not to be spoiled here. It all hinges, however, on the mysterious Mr. Cornelius Robinson (voiced by Tom Selleck) and his incredible inventions. Until that point, though, I was worried this was bordering on becoming one of the worst Disney animated feature films ever when magically it all comes together. A wonderful quotation from Walt Disney himself—and I pay homage to him here as I think so many kids of the past two generations and beyond will never realize or make the connection that Walt Disney was a real person not just the name of a gigantic conglomeration of entertainment companies and theme parks—ties everything up with a bow. The only think missing from this remarkable film achievement were after-credit outtakes or a final charming scene. The CGI animation was brilliant. The people look incredible. Animating animals is one thing, but when you can give CGI people this much capacity for emotion, you have achieved something truly outstanding. The future world was rendered with delightful effects to wow the imaginations of the young and old. The voice cast was also worthy of the task lending their talents toward bringing realism to the emotions of the characters. Wesley Singerman, who does the voice of Wilbur, deserves strong praise for helping bring about one of the coolest teen characters ever rendered. As for the story, while it does end well, and the twists and secrets do redeem what seems like a not so great story for a while, it's important to note that the villainous bowler hat 'Doris' and her wearer the Bowler Hat man are very creepy—perhaps too much so for younger children. Some great and important lessons are learned by young Lewis from which all children can learn, but only if they pay close attention. This, of course, was the risk Stephen J. Anderson and the writers took in taking this story down its course. Will some of these lessons be lost? Will the 'reveal' be too quick for everything to sink in? The gamble, it seems, paid off, for most will be left satisfied and happy with the outcome.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Meet The Robinsons (2007)
Voice Cast Members
Angela Bassett
• Daniel Hansen • Jordan FryMatthew Josten
• Laurie Metcalf • Don HallHarland Williams
• Paul Butcher • Tracey Miller-ZarnekeWesley Singerman
• Stephen J. Anderson • Nicole SullivanTom Selleck
Director
Stephen J. Anderson
Co-Screenwriters
Jon Bernstein
• Michelle Bochner| Book | CD Soundtrack | DVD |
| Related Book | PS2 | VHS |
Meet The Robinsons (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Disney's animated film, Meet the Robinsons is a Stephen J. Anderson film based on the short book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce. The film's story is about an orphaned boy genius inventor named Lewis (voiced by Daniel Hansen and Jorday Fry) whose dreams of getting adopted are clouded when a mysterious boy from the future named Wilbur arrives to protect him from the villainous Bowler Hat Man. A subsequent trip to the future and meeting with Wilbur's family gives Lewis the family he's always dreamed of, though the story seems borderline pointless and misguided, and the characters seem overdrawn, confusing, and hapless. That is until the secrets are finally revealed and the resulting in a spectacular CGI film achievement. Though the villain may be too frightening for younger children, the film overall carries some wonderful messages that should stick with children a very long time.
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