REVIEW: ‘Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars’

Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars is a Netflix animated film that adapts characters from Ubisoft’s games. While the Rabbids are, as a whole, free-spirited, fun-loving, and none too bright, there is one among them with intelligence and drive. His name is Scribbles and he dreams of traveling to Mars. When he learns that a tech corporation is planning a mission to Mars, Scribbles is instantly interested. But to make the situation even better, the plan is to send a team completely comprised of Rabbids. That is all Scribbles needs to hear before he has departed his home for the corporation’s headquarters on his first step to Mars.

Early on, Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars did little to impress me. The first half of this slightly over an hour movie was little more than a long string of goofy Rabbid moments that ranged from chuckle-worthy, to mildly annoying. It isn’t until the halfway point of the film that things change drastically and the movie managed to capture me. This change comes about when the movie finally decides to be more than just a string of goofy gags. This change is triggered when one of the scientists working with the Rabbids discovers how smart Scribbles is.

Olivia, a Black, female scientist, is the one who has this revelation. But her discovery doesn’t engender the response she expects from her boss. Rather than rewarding Scribbles with the lead on the upcoming mission, Scribbles is sent to be frozen. How Scribbles, Olivia, and a security guard named Arthur manage to avoid this outcome and get Scribbles on his way to Mars opens the story to a surprisingly meaningful tale about chasing your dreams, as well as accepting others, even when they are different from you.

The way Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars delivers its messages to the viewer is the perfect tone for the young audience the movie caters to. It asks its questions in a way that presents the viewer with the answer but falls just short of actually answering it. Rather, it leaves the question hanging for the child to conclude on their own.

While Scribbles is the one who holds the starring role throughout Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars, it is Olivia who steals the show. Smart and resourceful, Olivia always manages to come through for the struggling Rabbids. And when the big finale starts and the chips are down, she pulls off the best G-Rated Ellen Ripley impersonation I’ve ever seen.

The visuals in this picture do a great job of delivering this ultimately charming tale. The goofiness of the Rabbids is handled wonderfully from a visual standpoint. Every Rabbid that features in the movie is instantly recognizable whenever they are on camera. Their personalities are delivered wonderfully through each character’s unique antics, allowing a sense of order to be present amidst the chaos of bouncing Rabbids.

The voice acting from the humans in the story also does a great job bringing the personalities of that side of the cast to the fore. While much of it is delivered in the over-the-top manner one would expect of a kids program, it nevertheless manages to be effective in its delivery.

When all is said and done, Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars delivers a tale that has an endearing core wrapped up in a furry coat of Rabbids mayhem. If you are looking for something to plop some youngsters down in front of, that will deliver some solid messages as well as cheap laughs, this movie should serve for the hour it lasts.

Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars is streaming now on Netflix.