Home *** (2015, voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin) – Movie Review

Director Tim Johnson’s DreamWorks family animation is likeable and modestly amusing but comes with a very thin plot that feels like it’s been hastily dreamt up in the studio but is actually based on a book by Adam Rex. The animation is smooth and seamless, but a little uninspired and unimaginative.

There’s an alien invasion of planet Earth, but it’s a friendly one as the cuddly creatures just want to shift us all to Australia so they can enjoy the rest of the planet in peace. Now that is funny! And a good start to the movie.

It is also fine that Jim Parsons does his Sheldon Cooper turn as the voice of extra-cuddly alien Oh who, while on the run from his own people on Earth, befriends an adventurous, feisty little girl called Gratuity ‘Tip’ Tucci (voice of Rihanna) and reluctantly agrees to help her in her quest to find her mom, Lucy (voice of Jennifer Lopez). The girl’s got a cat named Pig, which may or may not be funny.

But the problems are too many pop songs, too much product placement, too few laughs, too many recycled ideas and a far too sentimental ending. Tom J Astle and Matt Ember’s screenplay is very stretched to fill 90 minutes, and there’s not enough individual flavour and quirky character to the piece.

However, the warm-hearted film still has quite a lot going for it as the concept is strong and smart enough and there’s plenty of cute and amusing stuff going on. There are no surprises that it provides lots of harmless, easy-going, good-natured entertainment.

Steve Martin voices Captain Smek and Matt Jones provides the vocals for Kyle.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com