I just got finished watching this animated film from 2012, and it made me happy and content… I can’t say that about any film.
BACK OF THE BOX: The man on the moon is board. One day, he hitches a ride to Earth on the tails of a passing comet – an “attack from outer space” that sets the alarm bells ringing in the President’s headquarters – and starts to explore the fantastical creatures and sights of a new planet.
But all is not well – the Moon Man’s absence from his post means that all the world’s children are unable to sleep. Before the President can capture him, they must join forces to return him to his rightful place in the sky.
Sorry about that.
The film starts off one night the Moon Man becomes restless because he’s lonely and bored. He keeps shifting around and his movements are seen by a young girl in the back of her father’s car.
The comet comes, and the Moon Man grabs its tail. The comet is seen by the President of the entire world, who has just declared at a party he has conquered every point on the planet. His wife suggests that he must conquer the moon with nowhere else on Earth to go after.
He takes the comet as an attack, and seeks out the crash site.
In the crater the Moon Man discovers the dirt and makes his way to a bridge. He sees the moon’s reflection in the river and falls in when a truck almost hits him. he floats down the river until he reaches the home of “Inventor of Everything” Bunsen van der Dunkel. Bunsen is commissioned by the President to build a fireball to reach the moon. He decides to build a rocket instead.
The rest of the film finds the President hunting the Moon Man and Moon Man’s new friend Bunsen helping him to reach home. Also the Moon Man learns he isn’t alone because he will always be there for the children, to watch over them so they may sleep peacefully.
Get ready for me to type words you might never see me post again… This film is whimsical and has a wonderful innocence to it. Granted it has some things only adults will pick up on, but in no way like Dreamworks films.
You can make some commentary about the “President of the world” and there is a “sex scene” but if a child watched it they will not know that. I personally say any “politics” present are only there to progress the story and are not meant to be social commentary.
There are also a lot of funny background animal gags. For instance, three birds on a branch next to a big blue bird sitting in a nest. then the blue bird lays a huge egg and the bird returns to its normal smaller size. The other birds applaud. (It’s funnier than I made it sound.)
I highly suggest this for children, or anyone. I got that youthful, anything-can-happen optimism from this film. The kind that you have when you’re a kid before the world makes you jaded.
It’s very enjoyable watching the Moon Man discovering the world.
The animation can be a little static a few short times but it’s nothing that will completely pull you out of the film.
The artwork is beautiful, and colorful.
I would say this film would mostly be aimed at younger children however, I feel it’s good for all ages… Teens might not want to sit through it however, because, you know TEENS.
Bottom Line – this film is delightful, so give it a watch.
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