Writer: Nur Safina Othman

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Watch this if you liked: "Shrek", "Toy Story", "Monsters vs. Aliens"

There will be an overwhelming question in your mind as soon as this movie begins - are the characters of "Planet 51" stolen from other popular animations? The inhabitants are green like Shrek and the aliens look like B.O.B. from "Monsters vs. Aliens".

The movie chronicles the peace-loving denizens of Planet 51 whose lives are disrupted when an astronaut named Captain Charles T. Barker unknowingly lands on their home, thinking there are no lifeforms there. The astronaut (or rather, the alien, as he would be regarded) seeks the help of Lem (Justin Long) to return where he came from and avoid being captured by the Planet 51 soldiers.

To be fair, "Planet 51" does a boast a A-list voiceover cast. Other than Justin Long, you have Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel and Seann William Scott as Captain Barker, Neera and Skiff. However, the simple plot behind the movie is not as entertaining as one would have liked. Lem's labourious attempts to find ways to help Barker is especially tiring after a while and this is when the movie comes off rather boring. However, the assorted colours do help its cause.

"Planet 51" is a kid's movie but some adults may enjoy it too. After all, animated movies are the one thing that people who are young at heart can be forgiven for.


Cinema Online, 02 November 2009