Astro Boy
Summit Entertainment | Release Date: October 23, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
53
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
15
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
A marvelously designed piece of cartoon kinetics. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe Williams
It's zippy, and the movie version has both a computerized sheen and handcrafted detailing. Because the details are cribbed from classics, parents can enjoy this 'toon as much as their kids. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The movie contains less of its interesting story and more action and battle scenes than I would have preferred. Read full review
75
New York PostBilly Heller
A sweet and endearing movie. Attention, kids: It's also packed with action! Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
The lighting, production design, and character modeling are excellent, and director David Bowers (Flushed Away) references "Frankenstein," "Wall-E," "Transformers," and even Abraham and Isaac. But the TV series, primitive though it was, had a sweet innocence and joyfulness that made it more fun. Read full review
67
Portland OregonianMarc Mohan
In addition to the slick but generic computer animation, it's also got an A-list voice cast: Nicolas Cage as Dr. Tenma, the grieving inventor, and Donald Sutherland as a scheming politician. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Astro Boy alternately soars and sputters through a story line that’s not quite sure who it’s aimed at. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Derivative bits aside, the pint-sized Japanese icon takes flight in vibrant CG animation -- no 3D glasses required. Read full review
60
VarietyAndrew Barker
Appropriately for a film about robots, efficiency is the primary virtue of Astro Boy, a well-oiled CG-animated superhero pic that makes up in competence and vitality what it lacks in originality. Read full review
60
Time OutNick Schager
What’s ultimately more impressive than the vigorous madcap action and innocuous humor, however, is Bowers’s willingness to address adult themes--alienation, regret, class tensions--with a directness that shows a surprising respect for his target young-adult audience Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyAaron Hillis
Corny but goodhearted, the film tries hard not to annoy parents, with animation more fizzy than frantic and nerdy references. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
It's a totally serviceable reboot for young people who are just discovering the joys of manga, but I can't help but miss the raw animation and even rawer emotional aesthetics of Tezuka's original televised animé series. Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
There are tiny glints of humor and intelligence at work, and the action and animation rockets along slickly and stylishly. But unlike the protagonists of almost any and all of the Pixar titles, Astro Boy's namesake lacks even an iota of soul. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
I wish the film version of Astro Boy provided a stronger antidote to mediocrity. Read full review
50
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Though some scenes may be too intense for children, the action is slick, with robot clashes and airborne chases leaving the strongest impression. Read full review
50
The New York TimesManohla Dargis
And so he zips and zags, keeping aloft in a movie that can’t always do the same. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleAmy Biancolli
Purists should have a field day enumerating the differences between the original "Astro Boy" and this high-gloss reimagining. Someone has to. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesGlenn Whipp
Plays like "Transformers" for tots, a "Pinocchio" story that stays true to its source material's storied past without adding much in the way of interest, outside of some clankingly obvious political subtext that will alienate people of all stripes. Read full review
50
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
It will put some viewers in mind of yet another story with the same theme: "Pinocchio." Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie Punter
Astro Boy definitely sets himself up for a sequel, and the overall scenario is ripe to explore many current issues. But let's hope the creators trade in the well-used parts for some fresh material. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
Older viewers are more likely to see a muddled film full of one-dimensional characters and insultingly strident politics. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Looks so great, it may take a while to notice it's a clunky political parable wrapped in a tonally confused fairy tale. Read full review
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