Formula: Independence Day / (WALL-E * Mars Needs Moms)
[Voice] Cast: Jim Parsons has a distinctive and lively voice that is perfect for animation*. Rihanna (who, by the way, I've managed to see all of the movies she's been in, mostly by accident) lends herself well to the role. I didn't feel like the animators were trying too hard to work around her (Bruno Mars was a bird Bruno Mars in Rio 2. Rihanna was just a random teenage girl). It took me a while to remember that that was even her doing the voice. I get the feeling that Steve Martin lives for voicing characters like the one in Home. Captain Smek is virtually an extension of his Jerk character. Other than Jennifer Lopez and Matt Jones (Badger from Breaking Bad), Dreamworks didn't feel the need to over-stuff this with voice talent, much to its benefit.
*Somewhere, there better be an animation studio working on a project with Jack McBrayer and Jim Parsons called "No, You Go First" that is 90 minutes of the two nicest people both insisting on holding the door for the other person.
Plot: The Boov are an advanced but cowardly species who move from planet to planet to escape their enemies, the Gorg. Their latest home is a little planet called Earth. So, they round up all the humans, move them to Australia, and inhabit the rest of the planet. Oh (Parsons) is a Boov who is disliked by all the other Boovs and accidentally sends a message informing the Gorg where they all are. He goes into hiding and meets a girl, Tip (Rihanna) who was missed by the Boov and is trying to reunite with her mother. They form a friendship and you know the rest, even if you don't know the details of each beat.
Elephant in the Room: What, how do the Boov take over the entire planet? And are there really enough of them to fill the planet? Their technology makes no sense and... Slow down. This is a silly movie, not to be examined closely at all in that way. It has a good heart to it, but don't expect to understand anything about the invasion. It doesn't make sense.
To Sum Things Up:
This is a sweet little movie. Parsons' voice work is the lovable heart of it all. The other voice actors work around him well (not to suggest that he is overbearing as opposed to a lead worth building around). The animation is fine by today's standards, but not exceptional by any measure. There was a moment at the end of the movie that got me a little choked up, so that speaks to its effectiveness. I'm not going to recommend this to everyone I see, but there's a lot worse animated movies out there.
Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend
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