Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Andy Fickman, Walt Disney Pictures, PG 98 Minutes.
This entertaining sci-fi thriller is based on the extra-terrestrial characters first created by noted novelist Alexander Key in 1968 and later adapted to the 1975 fantasy film ‘Escape from Witch Mountain’ followed soon after by ‘Return from Witch Mountain.’
The latest take on Disney’s original film is from director Andy Fickman (‘You Again’) teaming-up again with ‘Jumanji’s Dwayne Johnson who portrays Jack Bruno a Las Vegas cab driver fleeing from the mob before coming across two alien passengers.
Upon dropping-off scientist Dr Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino – ‘Faster’) at Hollywood’s UFO Convention Jack suddenly discovers Sara (Anna Sophia Robb – ‘Soul Surfer’) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig – ‘Blackway’) in the back seat of his cab asking to be taken to a secluded location.
Having confronted the henchmen sent from the mob in an earlier encounter Jack proceeds to transport both teenagers to their desert destination reluctantly accepting their $15,000 payment only to then find them being pursued by members of the military.
This follows the discovery of a spacecraft near LA by the military led by Major Burke (Ciaran Hinds – ‘The Debt’) who with his team are also in hot pursuit intent on capturing the alien visitors to conduct certain scientific experiments.
In addition to the military chasing the trio there is also an alien assassin from outer space known as “Syphon” (similar to ‘”Predator”) sent by their planet’s military in preparation for an invasion of the Earth.
Realising that the main objective is to find the teenagers’ spaceship Jack wastes little time in involving Alex but first must rescue Sara and Seth from Burke’s experimental clutches both of whom are being held hostage within Witch Mountain.
With Jack and Alex engaged in overpowering Burke’s military forces-assisted by the alien teenagers’ paranormal powers-Sara and Seth are later able to find their missing spacecraft and return to their planet leaving Jack and Alex a special memento.
In some respects Fickman’s fantasy adventure is an entertaining remake and certainly far more enjoyable than the 1975 film largely due to the splendid special effects including a superior storyline filled with many action sequences.
Of course one cannot overlook Johnson’s imposing presence or his charismatic performance intended to deliver a myriad of entertaining scenes throughout the movie or the congenial chemistry with the delightfully gregarious Gugino.
Race To Witch Mountain is televised on Channel 7flix at 6.30PM on Friday 24 July.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
