Meet the Robinsons

MEET THE ROBINSONS — *** — Animated feature starring the voices of Tom Selleck, Angela Bassett, Nicole Sullivan and others; rated G (violence, mild vulgarity, brief drugs).

If half — or maybe even a third — of the jokes in "Meet the Robinsons" were really funny, it would be hysterical.

As it is, this digitally animated science-fiction comedy has to settle for being sort of goofy and cool. It's certainly one of the more imaginative-looking Disney cartoons in recent memory. It also has one of the better stories for a cartoon, even if portions seem ripped off from the "Back to the Future" movies.

"Robinsons" is based on a book by William Joyce (the creator of televisions' "Rolie Polie Olie") and follows a bright young orphan named Lewis (voiced by Daniel Hansen and Jordan Fry), a would-be inventor whose latest experiment is a memory scanner. But it has failed spectacularly, and the dejected youngster is about to give up when he meets the mysterious Wilbur Robinson (Wesley Singerman), who claims to be from the future.

Wilbur tries to persuade Lewis to continue his work and even takes him to meet his rather colorful family — which really does live in the future. Unfortunately, so does a sinister figure who's pursuing them — the Bowler Hat Guy (Stephen J. Anderson, who directed and co-wrote the screenplay, and who voices two other characters).

The film's hit-to-miss joke ratio could be better, but it is filled with several "wow" moments — especially when seen in the Disney Digital 3-D format (at select locations, which include the remastered 1953 Chip 'n' Dale short "Working for Peanuts"; the more traditional 2-D screenings are supposed to be preceded by the classic 1938 color Mickey Mouse short "Boat Builders").

The ensemble voice cast is a good one, too. Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Adam West and comedians Nicole Sullivan and Tom Kenny all get moments to shine.

And the film's brisk pacing works in its favor, as does the action-heavy second half of the film. But there is a brief, terrifying vision of the future that may disturb a few really young members of the audience.

"Meet the Robinsons" is rated G, though it does contain some animated violent content (assorted mayhem, as well as some slapstick, largely done for laughs), mildly vulgar humor (mostly references) and brief drug content (hypodermic needle use). Running time: 92 minutes.

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