Movies

Is computer animation still such a novelty that it will pull moviegoers into theaters? Do wisecracking critters still push children's joy buttons? Is Space Chimps really necessary?

It's the latest in a long line of animated comedies that are family friendly, vaguely amusing and typically impervious to negative reviews. Although it's executed at a workmanlike level of craft, its entertainment value resides entirely in the so-so quality of its gags (yes, there are slipping-on-banana-peel jokes).

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.

Space Chimps is the story of Ham III, descended from America's first chimpanzee astronaut. The hero's grandson (voiced by Saturday Night Live's" Andy Samberg) is still trading off his family fame, though he's a mere circus novelty act.

His prestigious pedigree makes him the chimp of choice when a glory-grubbing senator (Stanley Tucci) demands a simian crew to search for a lost U.S. spacecraft. With a blustery commanding officer (Patrick Warburton) and level-headed copilot (Cheryl Hines), Ham follows the vanished rocket ship to a distant dimension. Once there, our heroes recruit the aid of a pixie-like creature (Kristin Chenoweth) to battle a comic space ogre (Jeff Daniels).

While the film has its cheerful passages there's no effort to push the boundaries of the medium. Everything about Space Chimps screams "good enough."