Review: ASTRO BOY

ASTRO BOY is the moderately anticipated new CGI-animated adventure hitting theaters, based on the 1952 Japanese manga series created by Osama Tezuka, which was followed by a television series beginning in 1963. This new film was helmed by David Bowers, which is his second directorial outing after FLUSHED AWAY in 2006.

The film tells the story of a brilliant young boy, the prodigal son of scientist Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage) who is developing a powerful new infinitely renewable source of clean energy recovered from a fallen comet. Naturally, his groundbreaking research is funded by the military and now they want to integrate this new power into powerful weapons.

In a tragic accident, Dr. Tenma’s son is killed, leading him to use this incredible power to recreate his son as the ultimate robot, equipped with endless defensive abilities to keep him safe. The robot has his son’s memory, but not the realization of his true self until he discovers his powers and becomes Astro Boy (Freddy Highmore). Now, as Uncle Ben would say… “with great power comes great responsibility”… Astro Boy uses his powers to save the futuristic, floating Metro City from an ego-maniacal President driven to get re-elected at any cost.

ASTRO BOY is a fun little movie, but it’s primarily targeted at younger audiences… much younger. Even kids around the age of ten may find the film a bit young for them, but for kids in general it’s rather enjoyable. The story is decent, has some good messages to it and holds together fairly well. The dialogue and the humor is where much of the youthful intention emerges.

The voice cast features a respectable line-up, including Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland, Eugene Levy, Nathan Lane and even Samuel L. Jackson. Nicolas Cage does a decent job, but I did find myself pulled out of the story whenever he spoke, unlike the rest of the cast. He just has one of those unavoidably recognizable voices. Sam Jackson, on the other hand, managed to slip past my recognition until the end credits.

Visually, ASTRO BOY looks great! The animation is sharp and stylishly simplified. The colors pop and the action is high-speed and energetic. The movie is going to appeal to boys for sure, filled with rocket boot flight on several occasions, arm cannons and all sorts of other miscellaneous weapons produced both by Astro Boy and his enemies. Girls may also enjoy the relative cuteness of the film and Astro Boy’s human friends he develops along the way.

The ending felt a bit tacked on and forced… OK, it IS tacked on and forced, clearly meant to setup the potential sequel. Kids will likely enjoy the movie. How much so will likely be a direct result of how young they are. Adults likely won’t be blown away, but if you find yourselves chaperoning young ones to this film, fear not. Boredom is unlikely.

We asked some of ASTRO BOY’s target audience what they though of the film:

Teddy: Great for 7 years old and older… best scenes were the action ones.

Ben: Great family film. Five star funny. I loved the flying scene and technology. I would tell my friends to go see it.

Jake (Tech Guy): I thought it was very hi-tech with touch screen computers. I really loved the movie.

Sean: I liked all the flying. Funniest part was when Toby/Astro Boy realizes that “I have machines guns? In my butt?”