Forgotten Features: Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Caution: Spoilers!

 

As something of a hidden gem in the midst of a batch of mediocre and frankly disappointing releases, it’s unsurprising that Disney’s 47^th animated feature Meet the Robinsons (2007) has been somewhat overlooked. As with Chicken Little (2005), the film was represented in trailers as a slapstick, madcap comedy flick, similar to one of Dreamworks’ offerings, and it must be said that the character designs did not initially appeal. However, unlike the cheap comedy and sprawling, meandering narrative characteristic of the aforementioned feature, Meet the Robinsons is not as disposable and trashy as it was initially conveyed to be.

Based on William Joyce’s A Day with Wilbur Robinson, the film follows Lewis, an orphan and aspiring inventor, who is transported to the future in a time machine piloted by the enigmatic, fast-talking Wilbur Robinson. Before long, he becomes acquainted with the entire Robinson clan, resulting in a humorous adventure filled with witty one-liners and plot twists galore! Despite some minor issues with the narrative, particularly towards the film’s conclusion, overall it’s funny, smart, and carries with it a heartfelt, positive, moral tone.

The Robinson family themselves, despite their purposeful unconventionality and outlandish behaviour, are strangely endearing, not to mention believable, bizarre as it may sound. There are instances, however, when this unconventionality is a little forced. The meatball fight scene at the dinner table springs to mind. But overall, these scenes are few, and hardly detrimental to a plot that is unexpectedly heart-warming, well-established and intelligent.

My only major criticism would be that the pacing becomes a little fraught towards the end of the film, due to the convoluted and nonsensical consequences of time travel. The fact that Lewis’ proclamation that he will never invent bowler hat ‘Doris’ makes Doris combust instantaneously is, frankly, a rather rushed and unsatisfying resolution, while his showing Bowler Hat Guy the alternate, dystopian future makes no sense as that particular time stream would not exist due to his already having vanquished Doris. Admittedly, I’m being nitpicky here; it is likely that this was acknowledged during the creative process, taking into account the fact that the film is rather lengthy as it is without addressing this issue. Instead, there seems to be a more prominent focus on character development, humour and an emotional back-story, rather than on developing an accurate, complex time travel narrative, which ultimately pays off.

The comic timing is spot on – it’s fast-paced, witty, and refrains from being too condescending to young audiences. Some of the humour is, admittedly, quite juvenile, but at other times it’s actually surprisingly sophisticated. Music is also one of the film’s most memorable aspects, with a characteristically quirky score composed by the easily-recognisable Danny Elfman, and songs by the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Rob Thomas.

On a concluding note, it was a nice touch that the film’s main moral – ‘Keep Moving Forward’ – derives from a quote by Walt Disney, as referenced at the film’s conclusion, although there are times when the enforcement of this moral feels a little laboured. In all, however, its repeated usage only serves to make the film’s accompanying message seem all the more accomplished. While not faultless, the film serves as an example that a decent, heartfelt story can be told through computer animation, and is, in itself, indicative of a bright future in terms of animation. Without a doubt, much like the moral it promotes, for Disney, Meet the Robinsons represents a sure-fire step in the right direction.