NOT A STAR: Astro Boy

Astro Boy (U)

Verdict: Astrocious **

By Robbie Collin, 31/01/2010

THERE are only two kinds of kids' films that come out this early in the year - awards contenders and flops in need of a swift burial.

And cartoon Astro Boy is no awards contender. It's the future, and Freddie Highmore is Toby - the son of government scientist Doctor Tenma (Nicolas Cage) - who dies in a freak accident.

So the heartbroken doc makes a robot copy of his son, except with rockets in his legs and a machine gun in each bum cheek - as you do, when commemorating a loved one.

Robo-Toby then has to defend the city against the evil President Stone (Donald Sutherland) who reckons the best way of winning an election in a happy, futuristic city under no threat from anyone is to start a war.

Nathan Lane, Matt Lucas and Bill Nighy turn up as supporting characters with very unenthusiastic voices - and equally dodgy names.

Lucas is a robot called Sparx. Lane's a shyster called Ham Egg. Nighy plays a scientist called, wait for it, Doctor Elefun.

This is a US remake of a 1960s Japanese cartoon. It came out in both countries in October, and it was shunned like a skunk with mange.

On these shores, where the Astro Boy brand means virtually nothing and with the brilliant The Princess And The Frog in cinemas right now, expect it to do even worse. Deservedly.

OUT FRIDAY

Your comments

This article has 2 comments

I, too, loved this film - viewed in our local video cinema with two grandchildren. Some of the humour was teriffic; Donald Sutherland voiced his part like the expert he is/was. It wasn't exactly a new idea, I admit, but the treatment I thought was superb. Nice effects and very worthwhile for a family, I'd say.

By Jay Bee.. Posted February 27 2010 at 8:26 PM.

Oh wow, I disagree completely with your review. Astro Boy is a delightful movie. Really kickass animation. Freddie Highmore really scored as the lead character. This movie had so much heart, and it was just a rollicking good time at the cinema. Best animated film I've seen in a while.

As for Princess and the Frog - strictly for little girls and their mums in my opinion. I was quite bored. And incidentally, I read in the papers that it's something of a box-office underperformer as well.

Dare I say..."deservedly"? ;D

By Phillip W... Posted January 31 2010 at 6:15 AM.

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