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Planet 51 (2009) It takes only one look at the rigid, rubbery aliens in this sci-fi spoof to know that we aren't dealing with topflight computer animation here.… PG Animation Comedy Kids and Family Jessica Biel Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Justin Long TriStar Pictures
Movie Review

Planet 51 (2009)

MPAA Rating: PG
Reviewed by Adam Markovitz | Nov 19, 2009

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Planet 51 | FIRST CONTACT An earthman makes friends with the locals on Planet 51
Image credit: Ilion Animation Studios
FIRST CONTACT An earthman makes friends with the locals on Planet 51
EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Nov 20, 2009; Rated: PG; Genres: Animation, Comedy, Kids and Family; With: Jessica Biel, Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson and Justin Long; Distributor: TriStar Pictures

It takes only one look at the rigid, rubbery aliens in this sci-fi spoof to know that we aren't dealing with topflight computer animation here. But Planet 51 still delivers a few pleasant surprises, including a smart story — a reverse-E.T. riff that plops an American astronaut down in a world of just-like-us-only-green creatures — and clever characters, like a lovable NASA rover with canine programming. He's no WALL·E, but you'd have to be an alien yourself not to smile when he starts wagging his antenna like a robot beagle. B

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Originally posted Nov 18, 2009 Published in issue #1077 Nov 27, 2009 Order article reprints