From the animation studio that brought you the unfunny “Shrek” rip-off, “Happily N’Ever After,” comes an unimaginative follow-up: “Space Chimps.” While kids may find some humor in watching talking monkeys go into space, this will be a film most will quickly forget. There is little to appeal to adults other than recycled and obvious gags and the occasional innocuous hidden sexual reference. There are moments within the story and some characters that elicit passing interest, but that is quickly followed by more of the mundane. There are even some tongue-in-cheek references that I doubt anyone under 30 would even remember. These chimps are running short on material.
NASA scientists find a wormhole in space after losing connection to a satellite. The scientists – along with a penny-pinching, glory-seeking Senator – decide to send trained chimps into space to see if humans could survive the trip. They choose two trained monkeys and find the grandson of the first monkey in space to lead the mission. Ham III works as part of a circus act but secretly longs to see the stars.
There is a little time to get to know the chimps before the mission. The actual time in space is rushed, despite the numerous possibilities for suspense or humor. The writers want the monkeys to get to the exotic planet and explore the terrain as quickly as possible. The experiences on the unknown world are not without a few interesting moments, but the story switches back and forth to an unsatisfying subplot involving the taming of an alien civilization. Particularly obvious is the lack of an internal logic to the story, as the monkeys never get hurt despite some dramatic moments and dangerous falls.
Overall, “Space Chimps” is fast-moving enough to keep a child’s interest, but this is not a movie the whole family will enjoy together.
Rated G.
