Planet 51

Critics at the time were lukewarm. While they praised the animation and the high-concept reversal, many argued the script lacked the emotional depth of a Toy Story or the relentless jokes of a Shrek . It currently holds a modest 38% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critical reception, however, was largely negative. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of . The site's consensus criticizes the film for squandering "an interesting premise with an overly familiar storyline, stock characters, and humor that alternates between curious and potentially offensive". On Metacritic, it received a score of 39 , indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Critics found its heavy reliance on pop-culture and sci-fi references to be derivative, dubbing it a "shoddy patchwork" of superior films. Roger Ebert, however, was a notable exception, giving the film two-and-a-half stars and calling it "perfectly pleasant as kiddie entertainment".

: Older viewers and sci-fi fans can enjoy "reference spotting" with homages to classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey Singin' in the Rain Rotten Tomatoes Positive Themes image for Planet 51 Planet 51

Planet 51 boasted a star-studded voice cast that helped boost its international appeal, including: as Captain Charles T. Baker Justin Long as Lem Jessica Biel as Neera Seann William Scott as Skiff Gary Oldman as General Grawl

: He plants his flag on an ostensibly uninhabited planet, assuming he is a pioneer. Critics at the time were lukewarm

The twist? The terrifying alien invader who descends from the sky is Captain Charles "Chuck" Baker (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), an American astronaut who thinks he is planting the U.S. flag on an uninhabited rock. Instead, Chuck steps out of his lunar module into a suburban backyard during a barbecue, immediately sparking a planet-wide panic. To the inhabitants of Planet 51, humanity is the faceless, terrifying monster from outer space. A Loving Satire of 1950s Americana and Sci-Fi Tropes

If you enjoy animated adventures with a sense of wonder and curiosity, "Planet 51" is worth checking out. Fans of films like "WALL-E," "The Incredibles," and "Lilo & Stitch" may find plenty to appreciate here. Critical reception, however, was largely negative

Rules-following alien teenager trying to make a good impression. Gary Oldman Paranoid, aggressively anti-human military commander. Professor Kipple John Cleese Eccentric alien scientist eager to dissect the human brain. Neera Jessica Biel

The film was a major international co-production between Spain's and Britain's Handmade Films , featuring a star-studded American voice cast: Planet 51 Review | SBS What's On