Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Directed by: Stephen J. Anderson | 102 minutes | animation, comedy, adventure, family, science fiction | Original voice cast: Angela Basset, Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Matthew Josten, John HH Ford, Dara McGarry, Tom Kenny, Laurie Metcalf, Don Hall, Paul Butcher, Tracey Miller-Zarneke, Wesley Singerman, Jessie Flower, Stephen J. Anderson, Ethan Sandler, Harland Williams, Kelly Hoover, Adam West, Nicole Sullivan, Aurian Redson, Joseph Mateo, Tom Selleck, Joe Whyte, Nathan Greno

Lewis (Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry) was abandoned by his mother as a baby at an orphanage. Headmistress Mildred (Angela Bassett) arranges for him many conversations with couples who want to adopt him, but something always goes wrong. After the 124th time, Lewis decides enough is enough. He no longer wants to harbor any illusions that he will ever be part of a family and therefore no longer have conversations with possible adoptive parents. Moreover, he is already almost thirteen years old, after which his chances will be almost nil. He invents a machine with which he can make his memories, even the earliest, appear on a screen and hopes to find his mother in this way. The machine is ready just in time for the competition where children can show off their inventions. There he is approached by a boy called Wilbur Robinson (Wesley Singerman). He claims to be a time cop and is hot on the heels of the villain “Bowler Hat Guy” (Stephen J. Anderson), who travels in a time machine and hatches nefarious plans. The match turns a disaster and Lewis travels with Wilbur to the future where he meets his family. After some initial difficulties, he feels at home with them and they decide to adopt him. Everyone is happy, until Lewis’ haircut appears from under his headgear and they abandon their intention without further explanation. This is more than Lewis can bear and he decides to team up with Bowler Hat Guy and his hat ‘Doris’.

It’s a shame that the movie starts so slowly. This is mainly because in the beginning there are many isolated events that are not really exciting or fun. Only halfway through the story no longer bounces in all directions and more clarity comes. Then the characters get a little more relief and a fun game with time dimensions follows, like in the ‘Back to the Future’ movies. The design is pleasing to the eye, which may of course be expected, and the references to several science fiction films, but also one to ‘The Godfather’ (1972), is very nicely done. But overall, it’s on the lean side.

‘Meet the Robinsons’ has nice moments, but is too confused especially in the first part. Worse is that there is little to laugh about and little exciting to experience. In short, nice and also beautiful, but certainly not mandatory.