Meet the Robinsons

Stars: Voices: Angela Bassett, Jordan Fry, Stephen J Anderson, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Selleck, Adam West

Director: Stephen J Anderson

This Disney cartoon venture is a very odd fish indeed. The crude animation looks like a cross between computer graphics and puppetry, and leaves the story's characters virtually devoid of personality.

The plot, which might have worked better as a live action, Marvel Comic-style adventure, revolves round Lewis (Fry), a 12-year-old science prodigy who's none too bright at life. When prospective foster-parents visit his orphanage and ask him about sport, he prefers to show them a dodgy invention, which promptly explodes all over them.

Then the villain, The Bowler Hat Guy (Anderson), turns up at Lewis' Junior Science Fair and steals the kid's latest gadget with the help of Doris, his hi-tech, but very independent bowler hat.

To cut a much-too-long story short, Lewis, pursued by the BHG and Doris, makes off in a time machine and ends up with the Robinson family, a cross between would-be superheroes and children who've never grown up.

There's a little bit of clever plotting about Lewis' real identity, but the flat and unattractive characters never come to life and the script is pretty lazy. One good joke though: "Why's your dog wearing glasses?' 'Cos his insurance won't pay for contacts.'

Also available in a 3D version, which certainly improves the images. This version is far more enjoyable than the other - which is flat in more ways than one.

David Quinlan

USA 2007. UK Distributor: Buena Vista (Walt Disney). Colour.
102 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 30 Mar 2007