Jetsons: The Movie (G, 1990)

The Spacely Sprocket & Spindle Orbiting Ore Asteroid Manufacturing Plant Unlimited is constantly being shut down as one Vice President after another quits. When another new VP is needed, Mr. Spacely decides the expendable George Jetson is the man for the job. The Jetsons pack up and take off for the asteroid, but young Judy Jetson is upset at having to leave home. Once they become accustomed to their new surroundings, the Jetsons make new friends of various alien species. In the meantime, George and his boy Elroy discover their mining operations are destroying the habitat of some cute, furry creatures called Grungies. George takes a stand against Mr. Spacely and the massive corporation. In the end, they learn that working together can benefit everyone.

This big-budget makeover of the popular 1960s animated sitcom yields mixed results. The Jetsons have never looked better: The animation is much fuller, and computer-generated backdrops give the story visual appeal that was impossible on the original series' limited budget. Nevertheless, the characters aren't interesting enough to hold kids' attention throughout a feature-length movie, and the humor is too subtle to keep 'em laughing.

Part of the original series' charm was its presentation of an average family in an automated future that still resembled the present day. Unfortunately, very little has been updated from that original premise, and JETSONS: THE MOVIE's characters are firmly rooted in early-1960s stereotypes. The world has changed since then, and many viewers --- young and old --- will find Jetsons: The Movie hopelessly quaint. The movie does have its good points, particularly for younger viewers. The characters are cute and appealing, and the story's gentle tone means parents can let kids watch without fear of potentially traumatizing or frightening moments. The movie's conclusion offers good messages on working together and self-reliance.