Fly Me to the Moon 3D – Family Movie Review
Movie Mom Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Starring: Edwin E. Aldrin Jr, Christopher Lloyd, Robert Patrick, Nicollette Sheridan, Tim Curry
Directed by: ben stasson
Execution time: 1 hour 25 minutes
MPAA Rating: GRAM
Gender: Children/Family; Animation; 3D
Three young flies hitchhike on the Apollo 11 space mission to the moon.
Sorry the synopsis is so short, but that’s all there is to this movie. If you’re thinking of spending more than $12 per person on this 3D family movie, read on. You need to know what awaits you.
Not all 3D movies are the same. the recent Journey to the Center of the Earth is an award winner compared to Take me to the moon. The animators of Fly Me they’ve perfected the art of three-dimensional blades of grass and that’s it. I’ve seen better 3D movies about space at the IMAX, and those were documentaries. Not only is 3D animation immature and outdated, but general animation is newbie as well. Bugs are a little cute, sometimes, but they’re mostly creepy. And the human animation is terrible. Sims 2 computer game has better design and animated gestures. And what about thinking that flies and worms would make big movie stars? Just because Pixar used rats with triumph, doesn’t mean any filmmaker can do the same.
Take me to the moon it’s a jumble of plot and theme: it never seems to land on an idea and stay there. (Typical flies.) After the first ten minutes of dialogue from the elementary school play, you start to wonder if it’s a movie that defends the dangers of obesity. It then appears to change to show how easy it is for anyone to embark on a space mission, which I felt was demeaning to our incredibly smart and brave astronauts. Finally, the movie tries to teach children about the history of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, but the real facts are confused with inconsistencies. For example, it is impossible for flies to withstand space travel, not to mention the fact that they only live for a few weeks. To make sure there’s no confusion, Buzz Aldrin makes an appearance during the credits to let the audience know that there weren’t really any flies on the Apollo 11 mission. Thanks, buzz.
PROS
There are superficial themes of doing the right thing and risking your life for the ones you love. Despite some great songs from the past, there isn’t much to say about this movie that is positive.
CONS
Nat (Trevor Gagnon) and IQ (Philip Bolden) constantly berate their friend Scooter (David Gore) for being overweight and encourage him to go on a diet. A proper diet is important, it’s something we all stand for at Plugged In Parents. But I don’t think it’s right to make your friends feel bad about their appearance, in any way, shape or form.
I was really horrified by Grandpa’s (Christopher Lloyd) motto: “If it’s not an adventure, it’s not worth doing.” What kind of morality is that for our children? If we all lived that way, children wouldn’t be fed, clothes wouldn’t be washed, and most parents wouldn’t even earn a paycheck. Despite the atrocious animation, this theme alone should let parents know what kind of unwitting writers were behind this movie. Grandpa even seems to encourage Nat to go against her mother’s wishes if it’s an “affair.”
Nat, IQ and Scooter run away from home to steal a ride on a spaceship. Another fabulous moral. When they return, the entire insect community launches them in a parade. So that? Hitch-hiking? Their mothers don’t punish them because they are so proud of them for going into space, glorifying the means to an end. Throughout the film, Nat’s mom is portrayed as the bad guy, always trying to keep Nat ‘down’.
There were also several gross parts. Words like shit, idiot, and mucus are used. Grandpa asks Nat if he knows of any “beauties who want to go for a honey bath.” He remembers his old vodka-drinking girlfriend as if she were a goddess, but never says a word about his late wife, Nat’s grandmother. Nat’s mother says, “Oh, my lord of the flies!” repeatedly. One of the bad guys is called Comrade Poopchev, and there’s a fart gag. And I’m not sure why the animators felt the need to give the female flies huge breasts. Once she notices it, she’s really quite distracting. It’s obvious that they intended to do this because the television station shown in the film has the acronym DCUP.
GENERAL
I say, “If it’s not a good movie, it’s not worth seeing.” Seriously, parents, skip this one.