Space Chimps Trailer
Vanguard Animation, Starz Media will Produce film, Fox to Distribute
A teaser for Vanguard Animation/Starz Media/Twentieth Century Fox's Space Chimps managed to annoy by quoting 4 classic movies (The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Right Stuff) within 30 seconds. However, Suite 101 reader vasquezm09 posted that the offending clip was actually a leaked promo reel intended to pitch the film to potential investors, and that a real trailer was in the pipeline.
Well, that promised trailer has finally arrived, along with a couple of websites for the flick.
Space Chimps Official Trailer
The upside is the new Space Chimps trailer is certainly a lot more polished than the teaser that somehow found its way online. There are also some funny bits amid the usual hijinks and pratfalls.
On the downside, Space Chimps' tendency to riff on more established flicks is still in force: The first line quotes Star Trek's opening catch-phrase, and there's a joke based around Harold Faltermeyer's classic "Axel F" music for the 1980's Eddie Murphy comedy Beverly Hills Cop. Such riffing on other flicks is not surprising since the trailer mentions that Space Chimps is "From one of the primates who brought you Shrek," producer John H. Williams.
Is the Space Chimps trailer a home run a la Pixar's trailers for WALL-E?
A wait-and-see attitude is probably best for this flick: this could be a fun time at the movies, or it could be another case of "shove the best bits into the trailer."
Andy Samberg (Hot Rod) headlines the flick as the goofy hero Ham III. Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) voices simian love interest Luna, while Patrick Warburton (Bee Movie) racks up another movie credit playing a dim hunk. This time he voices monkey commander Titan.
Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) and Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber) voice supporting roles in the film, as a headline-seeking senator and a would-be space tyrant respectively.
It's also interesting to note that the main credited sciptwriter for Space Chimps, Robert Moreland, penned another film that mined Shrek's formula, the failed "fractured fairy tale" flick Happily N'Ever After. That piece of information doesn't reassure as to the flick's eventual quality.
Kirk DeMicco (Racing Stripes) is directing Space Chimps. He and Moreland are officially credited with writing the flick. However, Simon Goltsman, David Goetsch, Jason Venokur and Ross Venokur were also credited at various points with helping to pen the script.
Space Chimps Websites
The official site for Space Chimps is surprisingly together, considering the film's not due for another three-and-a-half months. It features a cast page with promo photos of the voice talent, a synopsis, the trailer, a "Chimp Yourself" page, and a chance to view Ham's trailer. There are also a couple of other animated surprises if you have some time on your hands. The only downside is that it is occasionally difficult to get out of an environment once you're in; use the menu on top to compensate.
Unfortunately, there are some major plot spoilers in the character page, so if you don't want to know how the movie turns out, don't go there.
For those seeking a less interactive (and spoileriffic) environment, check out Starz Media's Space Chimps page which has another synopsis, the trailer, and an image gallery.
Space Chimps invades theatres on July 18th.
Fun Fact: Should you decide to watch Space Chimps, look for blatant or subtle product placement from the following companies: Amtrak, Dole fruit, Robeks, Hardee's and Carl's Jr. restaurants.
