I wanted to like this movie a lot more than I did. It has a lot going for it, including endless insider references to other films, an affectionate nod to the decade I grew up in, and a cool plot premise. But lack of characterization, especially in the casting of voices, made this animated feature nothing more than a wannabe great.

The plot twists E.T. upside down. Planet 51 is inhabited by little green people who look human, except they don’t have feet and the men don’t wear pants (there’s nothing to hide). They live almost exactly like we did in the 1950s, but with a few differences. Their big-fin Cadillacs are hover cars, and when it rains it pours rocks. But the era is defined right from the start with "Lollipop" blasting away on the soundtrack. They also speak English, so there’s no need for subtitles.

An alien ship descends upon this bucolic world carrying an arrogant American astronaut, Chuck Baker (Dwayne Johnson), who is befriended by a native teen (Justin Long) while being pursued by the egomaniacal General Grawl (Gary Oldman). The ensuing antics are loaded with references to Star Wars, Alien, Toy Story, Singin’ in the Rain (which doesn’t really work, what with the rocks falling and all), and a lot more.

The animation from the Spanish Ilion Animation Studios is sharp and smooth, and the storyline is solid. But the missing ingredient is a cast of characters that stand apart from one another. The only characters who have distinct personalities are the general, a mad scientist named Kipple (John Cleese), and Rover, a dog-like robot that wags its antenna instead of a tail. The others are simply there, and there’s no one we can really root for. Rover is the most appealing character in the film, and that should tell you something.

The relationship between audiences and animated features is becoming a little odd. Using my local theater as a reference point, this movie, which will appeal mostly to four- to 10-year-olds, was attended almost entirely by teens and adults, whereas the audience for Disney’s A Christmas Carol, which would leave anyone under eight with some serious questions, was packed with two- to six-year-olds. Don’t parents read reviews or pay attention to ratings?

If they did, theaters showing Planet 51 would be packed with kids under 11, who would have a ball with the action sequences. The 1950s references would be outside their experience, but they look cool (just as they did in the ’50s) so no one would have to ask questions. The producers may have intended this film to be for all ages, but it simply doesn’t work that way. And a quick look at the list of people in the background might explain why. The movie has a dozen executive producers, plus two other producers and a director (Jorge Blanco) backed by two assistants. And you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen. They surely spoiled this animated broth. It’s too bad; Planet 51 had such promise.

• Go Back