Delivers a few pleasant surprises, including a smart story -- a reverse-E.T. riff that plops an American astronaut down in a world of just-like-us-only-green creatures -- and clever characters.
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Although not bowling me over, Planet 51 is a jolly and good-looking animated feature in glorious 2-D.
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
A perky though not terribly imaginative feature aimed primarily at youngsters.
50
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe Williams
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe Williams
This movie, which was made by an animation studio in Spain, isn't trying to make a social statement; it speaks in the international language of lightweight comedy.
50
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
What's missing is originality and story and inventiveness.
Largely, it’s a jellybean of a movie: bright, colorful, sugary, and with no real content.
40
VarietyTodd McCarthy
VarietyTodd McCarthy
There's nothing funny, provocative or involving about what "Shrek" co-writer Joe Stillman and the team from Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios do with the notion here.
40
Village Voice
Village Voice
Like "E.T." in reverse, this pleasantly mediocre CG animation tale lands an astronaut on a distant planet.
40
Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
The script lacks wit, and the in-joke references to cinematic sci-fi classics will soar over little kids' heads without pleasing many adults.
While expertly executed animation-wise and passably entertaining for very young kids (less so, their parents), is still as dull as the hull on Rocketship X-M.