Meet The Robinson (2007)

Meet The Robinson (2017)

7/10

Starring the voice of:

Jordan Fry

Wesley Singerman

Harland Williams

Tom Kenny

Directed by Steve Anderson

It happens every so often that a movie falls through the cracks and doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Everyone points out what’s wrong and the little tweaks that could’ve made it a crowd-pleaser. But for those who discover it, rejected and overlooked, it becomes a classic. They watch it, love it, and to them, there’s nothing that could make it better than it already is.

Meet the Robinsons is one of those movies for me. This CGI science fiction animated comedy was released in 2007 by Walt Disney Studios during a time when they were struggling to regain the animation dominance they enjoyed during the Disney Renaissance Era.

The movie didn’t make a big splash at the box office, nor was it a crowd-pleaser, which is probably why there was no sequel or follow-up. Everything about the animation was kept simple and sweet. By that, I mean the focus was on the story rather than the flashy inventions or time travel. The movie revolves around the life of an orphan struggling to fit into the world he finds himself in. We see his struggle to belong and the joy of finally finding people who understand and accept him.

The movie’s catchphrase, “Keep Moving Forward,” is taken from a Walt Disney quote. It’s used to celebrate failure as a stepping stone to success—each misstep is a lesson leading to the next attempt until you finally achieve your goals.

As said earlier, the plot follows a young boy in an orphanage who dreams of becoming an inventor. His inventions and mistakes have often sabotaged his chances of being adopted, but he keeps trying. With a science contest coming up, he believes this time he’ll finally get it right.

Things seem to be going well until a boy about his age shows up, claiming to be from the future. He says he’s there to save him from the attacks and schemes of the Bowler Hat Guy.

The main character’s journey touches on themes of struggle and failure, but in the end, he not only improves his own life but also the lives of those he cares about.

I think one of the things that made this movie not much of a crowd-pleaser is the animation. It is very quirky and makes you feel you are not watching CGI, but an animation.

Another thing that was not in-line with what Disney does is, the story does not involve a girl or princess. It’s focus is on a young boy trying to make sense of his life.