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| Space Chimps--movie review
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Andy Samberg(most currently known for his work on Saturday Night Live) is Ham III, the third generation of the first monkey in space, who reluctantly seeks a higher purpose in life while being drafted into the space program in "Space Chimps". One of those films most adults are forced to sit through while they wonder what kids are getting all excited and giddy about which turns out to be not so bad. It will test adults knowledge of 80s music and sci-fi movies. And, it will amuse any kid who pretends to be an astronaut or fly a ship around the house.
We meet Ham III as he does yet another show in his career as a circus chimp, a sideshow act where he is shot out of a cannon as a mock astronaut. He grumbles about his notoriety with his elder sidekick Houston(voiced by Carlos Alazraqui). [A character which personally reminds me of Wayne's profile pic every time I see him.] Meanwhile, NASA loses a space probe through a wormhole where it reappears upon discovering an alien planet. There the probe is seized by a Shrek-like grump of an alien who, after some tinkering, discovers his new toy will help him take over the planet. Cut back to Earth. In order to test life conditions, it is decided(by silly fluke of circumstance) to send an unmanned mission in that direction with the chimps that have been used merely as demonstrators of historical aspects at the controls. But, the man in charge, the Senator(voiced by Stanley Tucci), does not approve this until he recruits someone with history in the program. Thus, Ham III is hastily drafted and collected with the help of a nature/animal specialist named Dr. Smothers(voiced by Kath Soucie whom any 80s cartoon fans might know her as Linka from "Captain Planet" among other cartoons). After some "wacky" testing, the mission is launched with the three "space-ready" chimps: Ham III, Luna(voiced by Cheryl Hines) and Commander Titan(voiced by Patrick Warburton, another "omnipresence" of animated films and the Seinfeld series). They arrive safely, and two of the three chimps immediately begin to interact with the creatures of the planet. The most adorable of all being a small "brain-child"--nicknamed Kilowatt--whose large head glows when she gets scared and sings a curious melody(voiced by Kristin Chenoweth). [If you don't find her absolutely adorable and funny, I would be outraged.] The commander, meanwhile is captured along with the shuttle by Zartog(voiced by Jeff Daniels), the dominating alien and his soldiers. Thus, the other two, Luna and Ham, must save him and the planet from destruction/domination. During the very unique and wacky adventure, Ham and Luna evolve a sort of relationship. [There's a brief period after the young couple and the commander reunite which makes little sense as they seem free to simply escape the planet.] After a brief debate of protocols, the chimps complete their mission their way and return to Earth in "chimp style" to everyone's surprise. And, we end with a happy and very silly parade scene. [And, if you stay through the credits, you will see what happens to their "stowaway".]
If the trailers don't say it well enough, I will tell you there is nothing for parents to worry about in this film other than slight confusion/disorientation(from the wackiness) and separation between generations. [As I said, jokes for adults and nonsensical physical comedy for kids.] However, while the trailer did not interest me much at all, the movie turned out to be better than expected. It still was a bit loose, random and/or silly for me. But, I DID get many of the jokes and sci-fi references and did NOT feel like I needed my money back(other than for the shotty theater handling which sort of soured the experience and a few moments of the sort of material I already mentioned which caused a slight disorientation). The kid sitting with his father a few rows behind me was actually amusing(instead of bothersome) during the previews.
I mentioned the noteable(and a few not so noteable) voices of the film. I should also politely mention Kenan Thompson(the circus ringmaster), Zack Shada(Comet, the youngest monkey who is a "tech whiz" but too young to fly in space), Omid Abtahi(middle eastern Dr Jagu), Jane Lynch(Dr. Poole) and Patrick Breen(as stocky Dr. Bob, who doesn't look at all like the voice actor yet looks so familiar).
I suppose because of the less-than-noteable cast and the lack-luster title/concept, this movie would get an unsatisfactory rating. It is not quite the calibur of coherent details and awe-inspiring outer space that is Pixar's "Wall-E", but it still has its merits. Like with "Cars"(another Pixar film), I learned to not judge a movie by its lame title or subject matter. I saw this chimp film by chance as the film I came to see was not showing for another hour. And, I did not want to simply waste/fill time.
So, while I pop and lock to the beat of Herbie Hancock, I will give "Space Chimps"(rated G at approximately one hour and twenty minutes long) three and a half stars out of five(2.75 out of four). With a little more polish and a little less wackiness, it might have been much more impressive. Still, it was a delight both parent and child(between the ages of four and ten) can enjoy for different(and maybe similar) reasons. [But, if your child is a little "brainiac" who is too smart for his/her own good, you might skip it as the kid might feel insulted by the intelligence.]
--brainstormer, free-lance movie critic and participant in the Thoughts.com blogging experience.
[Opposable thumbs up.]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Chimps |
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Posted by brainstormer on 2008-07-27 16:03:22 | Rating: | Views: 83
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