RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Space Chimps
Space Chimps

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Space Chimps (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
37 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

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 Rating: PG [See Full Rating] Mild threatening scenes

Runtime: 81 mins

Genre: Childrens

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

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    RT Review Revue Mini - Space Chimps
    >
1 - 2 of 2

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Space Chimps

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

There is genuine sparkle in the voice work and more than a few jokes that really do hit the sweet spot.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
09/19/08
Julian Shaw
Julian Shaw
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A sweet and harmless family film.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
09/15/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A movie called Space Chimps ought to be cheap, crude and silly, and this computer-animated lark delivers on all fronts.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
09/19/08
Jake Wilson
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The animation looks unfinished, with a kind of lifeless mechanical sheen replacing actual textures.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
07/17/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Kiddie space adventure cute, but no WALL-E.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
07/18/08
Sandie Angulo Chen
Sandie Angulo Chen
Common Sense Media

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.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
07/17/08
Josh Bell
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly

It’s pretty much your run-of-the-mill CGI effort (and remember the days when the technology used to inspire 'ahhs and ohhhs?').

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/01/08
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

It's talking monkeys in space. How is that not fun?

Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment Comment
07/18/08
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
Film School Rejects

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.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
07/18/08
Peter T. Chattaway
Peter T. Chattaway
Christianity Today

Space Chimps isn't so terrible - unashamed kids stuff that addresses no bigger question than how to pee in a space suit.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
08/01/08
Cath Clarke
Cath Clarke
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

...a good addition to this summer's family movie entertainment with its meaningful messages made appealing by a solid sense of humor.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
07/17/08
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

You won't go ape over 'Space Chimps.' But it won't hurt your kids to monkey around with this for 90 minutes.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment 3 Comments
07/19/08
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

A perfect kids movie - for DVD viewing

Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment Comment
07/25/08
Jackie K. Cooper
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com

Nothing here works. At all.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
12/04/08
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
DVDTalk.com

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.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment 1 Comment
07/18/08
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

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.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
08/01/08
Rob Daniel
Rob Daniel
Sky Movies

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?

Full Review Source: MSNBC | comment Comment
07/18/08
Alonso Duralde
Alonso Duralde
MSNBC

Space Chimps is delightful from beginning to end: A goofy space opera.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment 4 Comments
07/18/08
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: HollywoodChicago.com | comment Comment
07/20/08
Adam Fendelman
Adam Fendelman
HollywoodChicago.com

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.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/18/08
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
all

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...

See All

More DVDs

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
18% 18% New in Town
23% 23% Push
43% 43% Fragments

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Wild Things!

Wild Things!

Win tickets to the wild rumpus of 2009

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tobey Maguire Talks Brothers, Spider-Man 4 Source: Boston Globe
12
  • Nimród Antal Talks Predators Source: ComingSoon.net
7
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
78
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
128
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
95
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
93
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
88
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
79
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
47
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
26
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
24
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
16
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Space Chimps at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Space Chimps at IGN
  • Space Chimps at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

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

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

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

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

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

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

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

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

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

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

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

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

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

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.