Meet The Robinsons

The time-travelling premise to Disney’s ‘Jetsons’-style sci-fi animation bears a faint resemblance to ‘Back to the Future’, with elements of ‘The Terminator’. It’s a frenetic enterprise, but it does at least address the spectre of adoption in a sensitive way. To date, dweebish orphan Lewis has been through 124 adoption interviews; his propensity for inventing things that go wrong is the reason for his latest rejection. Lewis’ life changes dramatically, however, when young Wilbur Robinson rocks up in his spaceship and whisks him off to the future, a high-rise, pastel-coloured floating world, where Lewis meets the space cadet’s nutty family. Meanwhile, in the wings is a Dick Dastardly-style figure…

The first 20 minutes of this competently animated kids’ adventure are entertaining enough. But thereafter, the plot fractures, the pace goes into overdrive and the jokes wear thin. Some loose ends are tied up, but what a convoluted journey. Check out the impressive 3D version.