There is genuine sparkle in the voice work and more than a few jokes that really do hit the sweet spot.
Space Chimps (2008)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:89
Fresh:33
Rotten:56
Average Rating:4.7/10
Consensus: Space Chimps' cheap animation and overabundance of monkey puns feels especially dated in a post-Wall-E world.
Australian Theatrical Release:
Sep 4, 2008 Wide
US Box Office: $29,942,542
Synopsis: Circus monkey Ham III (voiced by Andy Samberg) works in a circus where he's regularly shot from a canon but he still lives in the shadow of his father's legacy (Ham I was the first chimp shot into... Circus monkey Ham III (voiced by Andy Samberg) works in a circus where he's regularly shot from a canon but he still lives in the shadow of his father's legacy (Ham I was the first chimp shot into space in 1961). A natural born rebel against authority, Ham the third is initially reluctant to go on a dangerous space mission to rescue a lost space probe, but away he goes, for lots of RIGHT STUFF-style astro-training alongside two highly prepared chimps, Luna and Titan (Cheryl Hines and Patrick Warburton). NASA's by-the-book methods jar with Ham's mischief-making of course, but once the space training ends, the mission begins, with myriad dangers along the way, including: a big-toothed monster and a run amok alien named Zartog (Jeff Daniels) whose harnessed the previous space probe for world-domination purposes, all good opportunities for Ham III to redeem himself. Despite all the fangs, parents shouldn't worry too much; not a hair on any chimp is seriously singed, and along the pratfall strewn way there's time for lessons about responsibility and realization of one's full potential. While the animation here is not quite up to Pixar level, it's still pretty and colorful, with a pleasing Candyland quality to the alien planet surface. Samberg brings a savvy zest to his vocal duties as the Ham, Stanley Tucci is a nefarious senator and--getting big laughs with flawlessly deadpan elan--Patrick Breen as one of the trio of egghead scientists. Kird De Micco directed; based on the computer video game. [More]
Starring: Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels, Patrick Warburton
Starring: Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels, Patrick Warburton, Kristin Chenoweth, Stanley Tucci, Omid Abtahi, Patrick Breen, Kenan Thompson, Carlos Alazraqui, Kath Soucie, Jane Lynch
Director: Kirk De Micco
Director: Kirk De Micco
Screenwriter: Kirk De Micco, Rob Moreland
Story: Kirk De Micco
Producer: John H. Williams, Barry Sonnenfeld
Composer: Chris Bacon
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Space Chimps
A movie called Space Chimps ought to be cheap, crude and silly, and this computer-animated lark delivers on all fronts.
The animation looks unfinished, with a kind of lifeless mechanical sheen replacing actual textures.
Small children may be distracted by the movie's bright colors, but others will be bored by the dull story and almost complete lack of wonder.
It’s pretty much your run-of-the-mill CGI effort (and remember the days when the technology used to inspire 'ahhs and ohhhs?').
The movie is so routine that you welcome offbeat things like an alien who makes incredibly high-pitched noises. It's the sort of thing that might jolt you out of your sleep.
Space Chimps isn't so terrible - unashamed kids stuff that addresses no bigger question than how to pee in a space suit.
...a good addition to this summer's family movie entertainment with its meaningful messages made appealing by a solid sense of humor.
You won't go ape over 'Space Chimps.' But it won't hurt your kids to monkey around with this for 90 minutes.
The film's creators haven't learned the Pixar strategy of creating a resonant story as the foundation of a film. So we get a formulaic tale of a lazy nonconformist who learns to take his responsibilities seriously and saves the day.
The animation will dazzle undemanding tots, but the writers must have been paid peanuts for a script that flings around hit and (mostly) miss gags, ranging from fart funnies to Freudianism (!), like so much monkey mess.
If the massive profits of Disney and Pixar's animated work is what inspired rival studios to get in on that action, why is no one else aping those studios when it comes to good writing and inspired characterization?
Space Chimps is delightful from beginning to end: A goofy space opera.
The beauty of this rather conventional, kiddy adventure is that it revels in not taking anything seriously. The script is peppered with stupid physical comedy, silly puns and dry witticisms on the concepts of space and monkeys.
Released into theaters just weeks after Pixar's WALL-E reset the high-water mark for computer generated animation, Vanguard's comparatively modest effort relies on imagination and ingenuity to overcome budgetary and technological constraints.
Latest News for Space Chimps
September 02, 2008:
RT's Summer in Review: The Best, The Worst, and Our Favorite Films!
The summer movie season of 2008 ended last weekend, and boy, was it a good one. Led by box office smashes like Iron Man, Wall-E, and The Dark Knight, Hollywood raked in the... More...
July 20, 2008:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Kapow! The Bat Slams The Box Office
We have a new opening weekend box office high as The Dark Knight enters the record books. More...
July 18, 2008:
Review Revue: The Dark Knight vs. ABBA, Chimp Flicks
The year's most anticipated film finally hits this Friday, but will The Dark Knight live up to all the hype? Find out that and more, and watch Dave Chung's final farewell from... More...
July 17, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Dark Knight Set For Gargantuan Grosses
The superhero sequel The Dark Knight and the musical Mamma Mia! debut head to head in what could a tight race for the number one spot. Or one film might open $100M higher than... More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 18% 18% | New in Town |
| 23% 23% | Push |
| 43% 43% | Fragments |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Space Chimps at Rotten Tomatoes
- Space Chimps at IGN
- Space Chimps at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

