Mike Beranek
Although in no way really distinctive this picture ticks a number of boxes with its cultural references i.e. to the 1950s of the alien world that is Planet 51, some hearty turns by voices such as Cleese, and a sprinkling of barely veiled Adult humour that makes it a pleasant enough way to spend a couple of hours. The music is fun and the message positive if anodyne. For me it got a little noisy and too busy with the escalating action sequences but it has character enough to be recommended to a general family audience in and out of a post-prandial snooze on Boxing Day for instance.
tns1
This is a total laugh, with all those B movies in the Fifties, people chased by Stawberry jam almost. This movie draws on this and the paranoid of the time. We sit there watching the film and enjoying the in jokes along the way. When will there be a part two in the 1960's ? Without giving away too much, enjoy a reverse universe time travel and let's pray there's intelligent life up there.
SnoopyStyle
Lem is just an average teenager except he's an alien on an alien world that resembles more like 50's middle America. He's bad at his job at the planetarium and has a crush on his neighbor Neera. An earth spaceship lands in their backyard and NASA astronaut Chuck Baker emerges. Meanwhile in the secret army Base 9, there is a room filled with Earth objects that have landed over the years. A Rover is activated and goes in search for the new arrival. Chuck is shocked at the inhabitants and run screaming into the planetarium. Lem befriends Chuck and tries to get him back to his ship. General Grawl and the army arrive to fence off the ship before Chuck could get there. Professor Kipple claims the alien could turn them into zombies.It's a perfectly fine idea of an inverted alien ET landing. The pop 50s reference could be funnier but this is simply boring. There is a real need for many more jokes. Looking at the credits, it looks like Joe Stillman is the only writer in the room. That is probably its biggest programs. It needs other writers to come and sharpen the jokes. This feels like a first draft with an interesting idea. The other problem is that the 50's reference are all old and nobody under 40 would get most of them, let alone the tiny ones.
jamesantoniou
Planet 51 is a good enough idea, but apart from the occasional adult joke, this film will bore anyone over ten. It could never compete with it's Pixar/Dreamworks rivals, but it will probably delight younger kids.I would not see this at the cinema. Instead, buy it on DVD, and put it on for the kids one rainy day.You see, unlike Pixar films, this is not a family movie. The acting is nothing remarkable, the ending is nothing remarkable. In fact, that is how I would sum up the film: nothing remarkable.If you see this film for £3 on sale, then buy it. But it is nothing special, that is all I am saying.
AD
