Cesar Chavez Day. For most, a regular day of school or work; for me and the rest of the employees and students at my university, it is a day off—a day to do whatever we want, for however long we want to do it. So what's a regular college student such as myself to do, you ask?
Sleep in 'til ten? Check. Wake up and watch cartoons for two hours? Check, check. Go across the street to the movie theater and see the newest Disney animated movie? Check.
You heard right. Despite luke-warm reviews and an underwhelming box office opening prediction, I ventured forth from my lazy college haze and went to see Meet the Robinsons with my boyfriend. Which brings me to my next point…Disney animation isn't just for kids anymore!
You're probably thinking that as someone who grew up watching animated Disney films and is obsessed with Disneyland I may not be the most reliable critic of the latest Disney movie. And you're partially right. From the beginning of the Disney Pixar collaboration I have collected and worn out all the animated movies I could afford, from Toy Story to Cars. I even wrote an entire article devoted to how Disney could incorporate The Incredibles into my favorite theme park. And yet, while movies like Monster's Inc. and Cars appealed to the child in me, Disney's newest movie, Meet the Robinsons, also appealed to the adult in me.
Without spoiling too much of the plot for anyone planning to go see it (and you all should!), I can't say too much about the film, other than how much I enjoyed it. Not only was the main character, a twelve year old boy named Lewis, conflicted and relatable, but the plot was well thought out (unlike certain animated penguin films I've seen recently), and the "evil villain," known only as the "man in the bowler hat," is by far the best Disney villain I have seen in a decade.
Yes, the freakishly skinny, wonderfully absurd looking villain is my new favorite Disney character (sorry Belle!). Not only does he have an evil plot afoot (what kind of villain would he be without one?), but more importantly he is the comedic mess-up that you just can't help but love. I realize this may seem odd for the people that grew up on classic Disney animated films where the evil sidekicks provide the laughs and the villains are just plain evil with no redeeming qualities (think Iago vs. Jafar in Aladdin), but somehow the Disney writers pulled it off and created what I think will be an infamous Disney character for years to come.
You might be wondering what, of all this, appeals so much to the adult sensibilities in me, but really it is not any one thing I have listed that gets to the heart of the story. While most animated movies make you want to laugh or cry (or both), Meet the Robinsons adds a little something extra to the mix, with a message we can all learn from.
The theme of the movie (which I think I can reveal without spoiling too much of the fun) is to always "Keep Moving Forward." Looking toward the future without forgetting to enjoy the present is what this movie is all about, and it achieves this idea through the plot, fantastic images, and 3-D (both literally and figuratively) characters; yes, even bowler hat guy.
To sum up, Meet the Robinsons is a must see for people of all ages. Never before has a Disney animated movie had such heart, such unassuming wit, or such an inspirational message. And while children can appreciate the humor, and relate to the main character's struggles, adults can also get a little something special out of it. After all, where would we be if Walt Disney hadn't kept "moving forward?"
