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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Meet the Robinsons
- Review Date: October 23, 2007
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Clever but sometimes scary time-travel adventure.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that even very young children will dig this Disney animated adventure, although it may be too intense for some. The story revolves around Lewis, a genius orphan who desperately wants to meet his real mother. There's a sense that he and his friends at the orphanage feel rejected -- he counts 124 couples he's met who don't end up adopting him -- but he's still take care of and encouraged by adults. The cartoon violence is owed mostly to the movie's villains -- a robotic bowler hat and the mysterious mustachioed man who wears it. The Bowler Hat Guy suffers from severe jealousy and bitterness, which is why he wants to ruin Lewis' future. But the future, as it turns out, is bright for all, even Lewis' nemesis. Parents of adopted children may be especially concerned with the way the orphans and the adoption process are depicted.
What's the story?
In MEET THE ROBINSONS, Lewis (voiced by Daniel Hansen) isn't just an orphan -- he's a child genius. He invents practical gadgets, like a peanut-butter-and-jelly gun that makes sandwich preparation a cinch. He has scared off, by his count, 124 sets of potential parents. In hopes of finally seeing the mother who left him at the orphanage's doorstep, Lewis works tirelessly on a memory machine that projects specific recollections onto a TV monitor. After a mix up at the school science fair, he winds up having to zoom to the future with a mysterious young boy. Trying to explain the movie's time-traveling plot is as confusing as Terminator, but the point of the future is to show young Lewis that he fits nicely into a zany family: the Robinsons, who have more wacky relatives than the Addamses, the Fockers, and the Tenenbaums. After Lewis fails to fix a PB&J device, the Robinsons celebrate his failure as a path to success. And when the film's villain -- a mustachioed man with a robotic bowler hat -- unleashes a T-Rex on the family, the clan joins forces to defend the young inventor. At last, he has a home -- at least in the future.
Is it any good?
Plucky orphans are perfect protagonists in children's adventures. Whether human (Annie, Oliver Twist) or animal (Stuart Little, Wilbur), they're the ultimate underdogs, and only the most hardened heart could root against them. Luckily, Lewis is not the typical orphan suffering under the rule of cruel-hearted adults. He's surrounded by compassionate grown ups who genuinely want to foster his brilliance -- from the orphanage's director (Angela Bassett) to his encouraging science teacher, and of course, the Robinsons, who all believe that mistakes and failures only make you better.
The multi-generational relationships, especially in the future, are endearing. The Robinson clan seems loony at first, but as the future continues, they quickly grow on you as exactly the kind of brood Lewis would naturally be drawn to (and with good reason, but you have to see it to understand). It may not be as touching as Finding Nemo, as technically brilliant as Cars, or as parent-appealing as The Incredibles,, but Meet the Robinsons is an entertaining step in the right direction for Disney's non-Pixar offerings. And who doesn't love an orphan hero?
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about why the Robinsons believe that failing is good. Can you think of a time that you didn't win but you still learned something useful? And, for fun, since Lewis is an aspiring inventor, name some inventions that you think would be useful in the future.
How are orphans depicted in the movie? Does the movie make kids who aren't adopted seem sad and lonely? Do you think that's how orphans must feel? Name some other famous orphans in movies and books.
How does the movie compare to the William Joyce book on which it's based? Kids: Had you read the book before you watched the movie? If not, did you know it was based on a book?
Do you like movies that are based on books/stories more than ones that aren't? What are some of the best book-to-movie adaptations?
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Kid, 11 years old
August 3, 2009
AGE
My sister is adopted and i found this very offensive. I am so happy she did not see it. But all of you people who said it is fine have nothing to do with adoption. How would you feel if they were basically telling you your parents did not love or care for you. 142 families just humiliated him. This is the worst movie I have ever seen.
What other families should know:
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Bowler Hats terrified my preschooler -we left the theater
I am writing this because I searched for many reviews about this film before I took my preschooler to see this at the theater. She enjoys the "theater experience" and I was happy a G rated movie had come out that I felt confident taking her to see. Alas! The film was full of questionable content - abandonment and growing up alone and the violence was ever present. The T-rex was bad enough but the scene where the bowler hats take over the bodies of the Robinson family was the proverbial straw, and we had to leave the theater with our terrified child. Our daughter was not the only crying child that afternoon.
I was tremendously disappointed in this film and was surprised it had received a G rating. In the future, I will have to see the film first or just boycott Disney products entirely.
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Kid, 10 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
i laughed
i got pop corn
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Kid, 10 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
one of the best movies ever!
I loved Meet the Robinsons it was really funny!!!!!!!!!!!
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
This movie totally turned me off
When I saw the ads for this movie, (Joan Cusak with the coffee patch) I thought it was cute. However, after I purchased the DVD (we did not see it in the theater), I previewed it before showing it to my 2 (adopted) children.
I was so mad at how they portrayed children in orphanages. Certainly there was another way to portray a boy genius and still have a cute story. Whether or not it was based on a book, I found this movie quite offensive.
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Really good!
I thought this movie had a very good message for kids of any age and that anyone would like it!
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Kid, 10 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
An amazing movie for even us 10 year olds.
This movie was, well, wow it was just amazing. It included the past present and future. Their was an inspiring feeling about the movie. It had frogs singing a T-rex funnily attacking 2 boys. This is so funny that I watched it 3 times in a day! (I had a lot of time on my hands) If I would every say this wasn't for adults I would be... i can't even finish my sentence. This movie is awesome.
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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
i laughed
i thought the movie was the best i have seem yet. i whant to see it again becouse i only saw it once. but it was still the best. i laughed so much. i loved it.
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Kid, 8 years old
February 16, 2010
AGE
It was good
Though i didn't watch it in a very long time. I watched it like, a year ago. Wait, when did this come out?
What other families should know:
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, adventures |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Stephen J. Anderson |
| Cast: | Angela Bassett, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Selleck |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 29, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | October 23, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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