REVIEW: ‘Astro Boy’

“Astro Boy” is being presented as a simple “robot-becomes-boy” tale, and it’s a shame. The movie is really a rare item in these days of quickly-released-and-forgotten CG kids films: a fun, smart romp that both kids and parents can enjoy guilt-free.

Based on (arguably) the first Japanese anime cartoon, the Americanized “Astro Boy” follows the brilliant son of Metro City’s lead scientist, Toby Tenma (voiced by Freddie Hightower). When the boy dies in a freak lab accident, his father (Nicolas Cage) instills his consciousness into a lookalike robot with advanced defense capabilities. Problem is, Doctor Tenma’s work is a little too lifelike, and seeing Toby breaks Tenma’s heart. He shuns the robot, and Toby’s forced to find his own way. There’s also an evil general (Donald Sutherland) who wants Astro Boy’s brilliant weaponry, and the ensuing chase leads Astro to leave the floating Metro City and hide out among the surface dwellers.

For the younger kids in the audience, there’s a lot of colorful, whiz-bang action most of the time, so boredom doesn’t settle in very often. The older kids will get introduced to basic concepts like mortality (in a way that’s so much less scarring than Bambi, so quit scowling) and social classes and structure, in the divide between Metro City’s Utopian paradise and the ground dwellers who are trapped among the polluted rust.

Meanwhile, the adults are treated to a script that moves along quickly, doesn’t pander to the kids alone, and is honestly funny without resorting to fart jokes or rejects from a bubble gum wrapper. Additionally, the voice talent is top-notch – and even Nicolas Cage’s increasingly odd delivery isn’t as defeating as I had feared.

It’s easy to take one look at the marketing for “Astro Boy” and think it’s a rip-off or derivative of Jimmy Neutron. The truth is, “Astro Boy” is what kids movies should aspire to be: smart, funny and entertaining without pandering to the target audience.