Richard Roeper: "Space Chimps" is obviously targeted for little kids, though I don't think they're gonna get the references to David Bowie, Einstein, and Bill Gates. The animation, it's just okay. The adventures on that wacky faraway planet are bizarre and not particularly captivating. But you know what? The chimp romance is sweet, the banter is fairly snappy, and the messages about friendship and perseverance are noble enough, so I can say, y'know, wait to rent it, it's not bad.
Michael Phillips: I think whatever you were laughing at was just coming up on your Blackberry that you're ALWAYS lookin' at during the screenings...
Richard Roeper: I NEVER- for the record, I never look at any text messaging device of any kind in, during the screenings.
Michael Phillips: Yeah, you've got one goin' right down there. Right down there.
Richard Roeper: Yeah, whatever.
Michael Phillips: But look, look, this film would have to be a heck of a lot funnier to make up for how hard it is on the eyes. It's one of the ugliest animated films I've seen in years.
Richard Roeper: You are just cruel. You're a cruel man.
Michael Phillips: Cruel? Well, I, I love chimps too much to see them depicted this way, visually.
Richard Roeper: Maybe that's it.
Michael Phillips: Or, it would have to have the kind of jokes that, that aren't just the laziest pop culture references out there. David- David Bowie jokes? Ugh.
Richard Roeper: Look, I'm not mounting the "Space Chimps" Oscar campaign. I'm saying, in a "SpongeBob SquareChimp" kind of way, if you will, it's got that dopey humor, I think little kids'll find it- wait for it to come out on DVD and pick it up for the kids.
Michael Phillips: Even that, you denigrate the DVD format by saying that.
[Richard laughs]
Michael Phillips: So no thank you.
