3 stars***
Much fun and entertainment arrives with this Disney movie. It’s suitable for (almost) all age ranges, which as we know, increases food sales at the cinema. Some young kids under 9 might get scared at a few anxiety driven points.
The story is far-fetched and that doesn’t matter because they make it believable and force you to show an interest in all the lead characters.
Two aliens (who look just like humans) team up with a Las Vegas cab driver (played well by Dwayne Johnson). They need to carry out some actions on earth so that it’s saved and so they can get back to their family. They’re being pursued by a guy who might have been in the Terminator.
This movie has been made before, as Escape to Witch Mountain and Return to Witch Mountain.
The screenplay is well written by Andy Fickman, Mark Bomback and Matt Lopez. They’re obviously taken the school of screenplay writing in Hollywood minute by minute standards and apply this knowledge magnificently.
I haven’t read the original novel by Alexander Key so I hope someone can tell me if this movie maintains any resemblance of the novel.
The special effects are worked in well without being too over the top. You kind of accept them as being real and capable from the Aliens, but the cab driver does become too strong in beating off the terminator impersonator when the information we’re given states that this isn’t possible.
This aside, it’s a pleasant ride through the 99 minutes with nothing to take your mind off the movie. The music from former ‘Yes’ man Trevor Rabin fits well without taking over. A sure sign that all’s well with this production.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I actually remember going to the theatres to see the original when I was a kid. Old eh? Maybe I will give this one a watch as it is one the movie channels now. Thanks for the review.