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Space Chimps

August 4, 2008

“Space Chimps” (Fox) is a lively computer-animated children’s adventure that, despite some obvious limitations, provides warm family entertainment and offers lessons about maturity, resourcefulness and self-sacrifice.
 
The fanciful story has its roots in some memorable real-life events. On Jan. 31, 1961, a Cameroonian chimpanzee named Ham — an acronym for the Alamogordo, N.M.-based Holloman Aerospace Medical Center where he trained — was launched into space as part of NASA’s Mercury program. A little more than 15 minutes later, he splashed down in the Atlantic and was safely retrieved.

Having helped pave the way for astronaut Alan Shepard’s successful flight less than four months later, Ham was rewarded with an apple, and went on to grace the cover of Life magazine. He died in 1983 and lies buried in the front lawn of the International Space Hall of Fame, also in Alamogordo.

Within the context of the film, this champ of a chimp is known as Ham I, a source of pride, but also of intimidation for his happy-go-lucky circus performer grandson, Ham III (voice of Andy Samberg).
 
When a $5 billion space probe goes astray, the researchers behind the project — under pressure from the smarmy senator who controls their funding (voice of Stanley Tucci) — include the unfocused Ham in the rescue mission’s all-simian crew, hoping to exploit his heritage. Rather than concentrate on his training, however, Ham busies himself with tweaking his pompous commander Titan (voice of Patrick Warburton), and flirting unsuccessfully with sensible Lt. Luna (voice of Cheryl Hines).
 
After a perilous journey, the trio arrives on the planet Malgor to discover that control of the probe has enabled overbearing alien Zartog (voice of Jeff Daniels) to become its dictator. Zartog quickly takes Titan prisoner, leaving Ham and Luna with only one, unlikely ally. Kilowatt (voice of Kristin Chenoweth), a tiny fugitive from Zartog’s power, has a head that starts to glow and a voice that turns operatic whenever she’s frightened, which is much of the time.
 
With the path ahead lying through the Valley of Really Bad Things, the moment has arrived for Ham, under the inspiration of his distinguished ancestor, to exchange high jinks for heroism.
 
The quality of the animation may be less than stellar, and the plot trajectory easily predictable, but director and co-writer (with Rob Moreland) Kirk De Micco’s lighthearted film has enough humor and spirit to divert young viewers. As they await the 1970s musical joke included just for them, meanwhile, parents will find the content unobjectionable.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G — general audiences. All ages admitted.

USCCB

Posted by George Vogt · Filed Under Lifestyle 

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