Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons is a 2007 American animated science fiction comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, based on William Joyce's children's book "A Day with Wilbur Robinson." The movie follows Lewis, a brilliant 12-year-old orphan who longs to find his birth mother. His inventive spirit often leads to chaos, scaring away potential adoptive parents. His life takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Wilbur Robinson, a mysterious boy from the future who whisks him away to 2037. There, Lewis encounters the eccentric and technologically advanced Robinson family and becomes entangled in a mission to prevent the villainous Bowler Hat Guy and his robotic hat, Doris, from altering Lewis's future and, by extension, the entire timeline. The film is a heartwarming story about adoption, the importance of moving forward despite failures, and the idea that family can be found in unexpected places, emphasizing themes of optimism and self-discovery. It is generally considered appropriate for a family audience, with elements of sci-fi adventure and comedy.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile 'Meet the Robinsons' does not feature overtly canonized LGBTQ+ characters or themes, fan communities have extensively discussed interpretations of the character Goob, also known as the Bowler Hat Guy. These discussions often perceive Goob as potentially gay or non-binary, based on his mannerisms and a fan theory about unrequited feelings. This indicates an evolving perception within audience discourse regarding character identities.
A prominent fan theory suggests that Goob (the Bowler Hat Guy) is gay and harbored an unrequited crush on Lewis, citing his 'clothing style, to his mannerisms and speech' as 'effeminate.' Another fan theory identifies Bowler Hat Guy as potentially non-binary, stating, 'Bowler Hat Guy is Non-Binary and I say Non-Binary in the general sense because he doesn't know he is Non-Binary yet.'
Violence
MediumThe movie contains frequent slapstick violence and action sequences, including chases, explosions, and confrontations with fantastical elements. While generally non-graphic, some scenes involve threatening characters and intense situations that could be frightening for very young children. There is no blood or gore depicted.
The villain, Bowler Hat Guy, uses his robotic hat Doris to control a giant T-Rex, leading to a suspenseful chase scene where the T-Rex pursues Lewis and Wilbur. Lewis's inventions frequently malfunction or explode, such as his initial memory scanner at the science fair, causing minor chaos but no serious injury.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe film includes several scenes that may be scary or intense for younger viewers, primarily due to the antagonist's appearance and actions, and suspenseful chase sequences. The darker alternate future presented can also be disturbing.
The Bowler Hat Guy is characterized as 'creepy' with an 'evil, seedy, looking man with a dangerous spider-like hat and an evil laugh,' which can be frightening for young children. A particularly intense scene occurs when Lewis returns to the Robinson's house to find them all 'possessed by the Bowler Hats' with 'strange eyes glowing red,' making the once-friendly family threatening.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe movie features themes of rebellion and disrespect, primarily embodied by the antagonist, Bowler Hat Guy, whose actions are driven by resentment and a desire for revenge stemming from a perceived abandonment and past failure. Minor instances of childlike disobedience are also present within the eccentric Robinson family.
Goob, as the Bowler Hat Guy, harbors deep-seated anger and seeks to ruin Lewis's future as an act of revenge for inadvertently causing him to miss a crucial baseball catch and subsequently feeling abandoned. Within the Robinson family, there's a playful yet somewhat chaotic dynamic, with children exhibiting minor backtalk and defiance, such as siblings arguing over a hat and yelling when their mother tries to nap.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic and sexual content in 'Meet the Robinsons' is minimal and very mild. There are no explicit sexual acts, nudity, or graphic discussions. Any romance is implied or portrayed in a wholesome, family-friendly manner, typical for a Disney animated film.
The character of Franny, Lewis's future wife, is noted as being attracted to his intelligence, described as 'sapiosexual,' a mild and non-explicit portrayal of attraction. There is a brief scene where a grandmother dances as her husband makes a 'sexually nuanced statement,' which is implied and not explicit.
Profanity
LowThe film contains very little profanity. Instances of coarse language are limited to mild name-calling and implied, rather than explicit, offensive terms. There are also instances of comedic, non-graphic potty humor.
The movie features 'rude name-calling' and 'implied profanity' at various points. There are 'several situations of characters coming up through a toilet,' which is a form of scatological humor rather than strong language.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no overt witchcraft, sorcery, or occult content present in 'Meet the Robinsons.' The narrative is centered on science fiction elements like time travel and advanced technology, with no magical or supernatural practices outside of these scientific inventions.
The plot revolves around Lewis's inventions, such as the memory scanner and time machines, and the technological advancements of the future. The antagonist, Bowler Hat Guy, uses a sentient robotic hat, Doris, for his schemes, which is presented as an advanced piece of technology rather than a magical artifact.
Substance Use
LowSubstance use is depicted in a very minor and implied manner. There is one scene showing cartoon animals consuming alcohol in a social setting, and a vague reference that could be interpreted as drug-related humor.
In one scene, a group of frogs is shown drinking martinis at a bar, presented in a brief, non-realistic cartoon context. The review mentions 'winks at getting buzzed and "baking cookies"', which is an ambiguous reference that could be interpreted as subtle drug-related humor, though it is not explicit.
Anti-Christian Themes
Low'Meet the Robinsons' does not contain any explicit anti-Christian themes. The film promotes strong positive moral messages, such as perseverance, forgiveness, and hope, aligning with generally wholesome family values.
Movieguide highlights the film's 'Very strong moral worldview with some great moral and redemptive comments like “the truth shall set you free,” forgive and forget the past, keep going forward.' The film emphasizes positive values such as persistence, determination, honesty, and creativity.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
This film is recommended for children aged 8 and older, with parental guidance suggested for those between 8 and 10. While officially rated G, some scenes contain elements of slapstick violence, thematic intensity, and mildly scary characters that may be too overwhelming for younger viewers. The abstract concept of time travel and alternate futures may also be complex for very young children to fully grasp.
Additional Notes
The film underwent significant changes during production, with approximately 60% of it being redone under John Lasseter's direction to make the villain more threatening and enhance the overall story. While there are deleted scenes, they do not introduce new content concerns.
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