Mixed opinions over “Meet the Robinsons”
by Dave
Today marks the opening of Disney’s new animated feature, “Meet the Robinsons”. The morning papers are filled with reviews, and the results can at best be described as mixed. In fact, the opinions seem to run everywhere from admiration to hatred, and everything in between.
Let’s start with the positive, and there are a few reviews that are very positive. Here’s a bit of Bill Zweckers’ review from this morning’s Chicago Sun-Times…
With “Meet the Robinsons” I’m happy to report director Stephen J. Anderson and his team have delivered on the goods — obviously opening new avenues as far as the animation is concerned, but perhaps more important, giving us a charming story that will resonate with all ages of the family audiences it is targeting.
Sounds pretty good, don’t you think? Well, as I continued to read other reviews, I came across one by A.O. Scott in this morning’s New York Times. His opinion is totally opposite, and he pulls no punches.
…“Meet the Robinsons” is surely one of the worst theatrically released animated features issued under the Disney label in quite some time.
…And, with the exception of a few quiet early moments before the full whirligig of narrative starts spinning, just about everything in “Meet the Robinsons” has been done better before, including at the Disney factory. This movie has more in common with cobbled-together junk like “Chicken Little” and “Treasure Planet” than with the studio’s classics. But it’s all right. I guess everyone makes mistakes — though only movie studios expect the rest of us to pay for theirs.
Needless to say, Disney needs a homerun here, or at least a bases clearing double in the gap. (Can you tell I’m ready for Opening Day???) They unleashed an absolute marketing blitzkrieg for this film, and they need it to pay off. Ads were popping up everywhere, and the film has been released in 3D in 600 theaters to get people excited. It will be interesting to monitor the response from Disney fans over the next week. I imagine there may be a large division between those who see the 3D version, and those who don’t.
Matt said,
March 30, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
I’m going to see it tonight so I’ll see how it is, but I’m going in with low expectations. I’m afraid this is going to be another dud.
By the way, nice use of baseball metaphors…
Thoughts on Meet the Robinsons (Including a Hidden Mickey!) « Broke Hoedown said,
March 31, 2007 @ 2:02 am
[...] has some good commentary today on reviews for the film. I’m inclined to agree with Dave that there will be a real divide between those who see the [...]