Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

The fun, thrilling, family adventure scf-fi flick that you never saw!

Andy Fickman (She's The Man, The Game Plan) directs this soon to be family, live action classic from Disney in which an ex wheel-man, now gone straight as a Las Vegas taxi driver named Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson, Get Smart, The Game Plan), inadvertently picks up a couple bizarre kids who are in a big hurry to get somewhere. Along the way, Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia Robb, Bridge to Terabithia, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) reveal themselves as children from a distant planet who have come to retrieve a device that is capable of saving their world from dieing. Being tracked by not only a secret US government agency similar to the "Men In Black", the kids must fight for their lives as they try and outrun an alien assassin sent from their home planet with orders to take them out. Enlisting the help of the denounced scientist Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino, Watchmen, Sin City), they race to Witch Mountain to reclaim their ship and make it back home before it's too late.

So if you didn't know, this film is a remake... well not re"make", but re-imagining of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain. So apparently it's been done. But for what's it's worth, this movie is a lot of fun, filled with plenty of action for Dad, an adult romance for Mom, and two kids who can do all sorts of cool stuff! Though the film opened at #1 in the box office when it came out, it fizzled quickly. I don't think I know a single person other than me who has seen it. But if you fall into that category, you're missing out on an hour and a half of entertaining cinema. Now sure, the acting is well... come on, it's The Rock for eff's sake, but would you have rather they stuck Vin Diesel in the role? Didn't think so, but I'm pretty sure Vinny's got another Disney movie or two on his contract, so I'm sure he was considered. Good special effects and nice work behind the lens was more than enough to keep the acting and redone script from drowning. Grab some popcorn and a drink, and spend a few with the kids... enjoy.

A side note. In the bar scene, the waitress and the sheriff, they played the roles of Sara and Seth in the original 1975 film.

6.2/10

Rated: PG
98 mins