Aliens In The Attic: Movie Review

Aliens In The Attic: Movie Review

Rating: (See below)
Cast: Carter Jenkins, Ashley Tisdale, Robert Hoffman, Kevin Nealon, Doris Roberts
Director: John Schultz
Ah, the school holidays must be nearly upon us.
What with Up, animated rodent comedy G Force, fable The Secret of Moonacre all on the screens now or in the next week or so, it's clear there's a major fight on for the family dollar during the two week hols.
Aliens In the Attic is the latest contender for the cash.
The film revolves around the Pearson family who head to their vacation home to try and get everyone back on the straight and narrow.
Teen Tom Pearson (Jenkins) is flunking school, sis Bethany Pearson (Tisdale) is besotted with her seemingly perfect boyf Ricky (Hoffman) and there's plenty of sibling rivalry - both between the young kids and the Pearson dad (Nealon) and his brother (Andy Richter).
So when the kids find a group of unfriendly aliens lurking in the attic and plotting the downfall of planet Earth, they're pitched headlong into a battle to save the world - and avoid getting in trouble the parents.
What can you say about Aliens In The Attic?
The aliens themselves are reminiscent of the malevolent Gremlins and crossed with frogs; their one weapon against the planet involves the taking over of older humans (youngsters are immune to their electronic ways) via a dart which renders them in the thrall of the aliens - via a remote control.
And as far as the kids are concerned, this is where most of the laughs come from. At the expense of Bethany's boyf Ricky who is just being set up for a series of falls - and from Nana, who when overtaken turns into some kind of Matrix style ninja grandma.
However, it's a family film so in the true spirit of how it was intended, I took a batch of kids along to gauge their reaction.
Both nine year old Patrick and ten year old Jackson were to be found laughing throughout the film - Patrick's favourite bit was when Ricky busts a series of dance moves as he's controlled by Bethany's use of the alien controller; Jackson's best bit of the film involved the fight between ninja kicking Nana and robotic Ricky when they have their Bruce Lee/Matrix like smackdown.
15-year-old Connor found it a little clichéd for his tastes - so I think on reflection, the film is pitched at the younger audience; it's inoffensive comedy which has a fair idea of which bits the audience will like the most (hint- it's the remote controlling of the adults) and exploits them for all they're worth.
There's a smattering of smarter moments throughout - one involving a youngster having to use one of the old style telephones elicits much mirth; and there are some messages about enjoying family time and bonding.

But as I say, it's not upto me to judge the latest cinematic outing aimed at the family - here's a summary of the kid judges' marks : Patrick - 7/10; Jackson - 6/10 and Connor 5/10.