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Along the way, the chimps deal with the usual questions that are raised by cartoon characters of this sort: Should they pursue their own self-interest, or should they band together for a higher cause, and so on. But unlike other films, which try to find some genuine drama in these dilemmas, Space Chimps treats these questions like obligatory plot points, settling them almost as soon as they are raised.

The movie is so routine that at times you welcome some of the more offbeat things that come up, such as Kilowatt (Kristin Chenoweth), an alien creature who looks kind of like a bald Precious Moments baby with a super-inflated head, and who has a knack for suddenly singing incredibly high-pitched notes whenever she's afraid. Her sudden noises are the sort of thing that might jolt you out of your sleep, but let's face it, the movie shouldn't be letting you doze off in the first place.

>Talk About It

1. How would you describe Ham's relationship with his grandfather? Does he want to be more like him? Does he want to be different? How is it a good thing for him to emulate his grandfather? How might it be a bad thing? (Note the scene where Ham III imagines that his grandfather is telling him: "Well of course you're not me, you're you. … Just do things your way." Is that good advice? Bad advice? Both?)
2. Do the chimps have any sort of responsibility to the people of that other planet? What about the first NASA probe? The chimps did not send it themselves—should they still try to do something about the effect it had on those other people?
3. Kilowatt learns to control her fear—which, in her case, seems to mean not only preventing herself from being afraid, but letting herself be afraid at times. Is there anything we can learn from her example? When might fear be a good thing?

The Family Corner

Space Chimps is rated G with no advisory. The dialogue includes an "oh Lord" and an "oh my God" as well as puns like "Let's chimp this ride." Ham III is depicted as a "bad boy" of sorts—we see his mug shot when he says "I met the Chief of Police once"—but he finds redemption over the course of the movie.

Photos © Copyright 20th Century Fox

© Peter T. Chattaway subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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