Race to Witch Mountain (2009) review
The movie at this week on top of the charts of Hollywood is Race to Wictch mountain this magic and fantasy fiction will be loved by kids Starring: Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Ciaran Hinds, Anna-Sophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino. This family friendly adventure is based on the novel, “Escape To Witch Mountain”, by Alexander Key and probably borrows elements from Disney’s earlier film adaptations Escape From Witch Mountain (1975), Return From Witch Mountain (1978), and the rarely seen Beyond Witch Mountain (1982). Since I’ve never read the book or seen the movies this review is totally from the viewpoint of a Witch Mountain virgin. Normally I would feel a little awkward about that but based on the majority of audience members in the theater with me that were under the age of 12 I think it’s safe to assume that this 2009 adventure will be a lot of people’s first trip to “Witch Mountain”.
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dvdrip trailer 🙂
Seth (Alexander Ludwig) & Sarah (AnnaSophia Robb) crash their spaceship on Earth (Nevada, to be exact). They’re on a mission of vital importance that affects the fate of not only their people but us unsuspecting Earthlings as well. The twins already possess impressive powers like telekinesis and molecular manipulation but it’ll take more than that to elude the forces of government scientist, Dr. Burke (Ciaran Hinds), and an intergalactic assassin designated “Siphon”. Volunteers are scarce but Seth & Sarah manage to recruit a down-on-his-luck cab driver (Dwayne Johnson), an astrophysicist (Carla Gugino), and a dog (Buck) to help them find the nearest Ray’s restaurant……..oh, yeah, and reclaim their spaceship so they can save the Earth from being invaded.
After seeing the complex puzzle that was Watchmen this light yet vibrant flick is a much simpler plot to comprehend. Aliens crash, government guys are itching to dissect something, and regular joes become extraordinary heroes. It’s the same stuff used to mold countless other space visitor flicks from the past and amazingly that stuff is still just as potent as before. I know I sound like a total spaz but I guess no matter how old I get I’ll always have that little part of me that gushes at the possibility of meeting an alien and helping it accomplish some lofty agenda while building a neato buddyship. And then the alien will leave me with some highly sophisticated token of appreciation like an anti-gravity belt or a snowglobe from the alien’s home planet. And I’ll tell all my friends at the asylum about my interstellar adventure during “pill time”.
This would probably be a good time to discuss the cast starting with everyone’s favorite wrestler turned good actor, Dwayne Johnson. Who woulda thought a little cameo in The Mummy Returns would blossom into such an impressive career. The Rock is a leading man, y’all.
Even when playing a gruff loner cabbie like Jack Bruno, all Johnson has to do is shine those pearly chompers of his and you’re instantly filled with this sense of reassurance that everything is gonna work out. Then he flexes those massive guns of his and then you get a whole other feeling that we won’t discuss here because this is a family friendly review.
AnnaSophia Robb is another one of those child stars that just seems to pop up in all sorts of movies and manages to steal every scene whether it’s comedy, horror, or fantasy. I could definitely see her having a lucrative career in her adult years just as long as she doesn’t get hooked on pills and booze like those other young starlets (Just say no, AnnaSophia, just say no!). Alexander Ludwig plays the other half of the “Blonde Ambition” duo as the stoic and highly suspicious, Seth. I’m guessing he managed to watch E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial back home because he does not trust humans (smart boy).
Seeing Carla Gugino is always a pleasure to see but I’m afraid since the film is Rated PG Ms. Gugino will be keeping most of her clothes on. Sorry, boys. There’s always Sin City. Ciaran Hinds plays yet another villain and the Siphon creature is a nice touch but the Predator guys might have a case for copyright infringement. And look for rib tickling bit roles provided by Cheech Marin and Gary Marshall.
Some of the action takes place at a Las Vegas UFO convention so expect to see a variety of in-jokes aimed at Star Wars fanatics, crop circle devotees, and “probe” specialists. Another bonus is the return of the original Witch Mountain twins Ike Eisenmann (Tony Malone) and Kim Richards (Tia Malone) in cameo roles as a waitress at Ray’s restaurant and the sheriff of Stony Creek, respectively. However, the biggest “easter egg” I spotted was a featured news reporter named “Natalie Gann”. Well, talk about a flashback flashpoint. Yes, y’all, that newswoman is Meredith Salinger who starred in a 1985 Disney film called The Journey of Natty Gann. I still remember the trailer for that harrowing 1930s set tale about a plucky young girl conducting a near solo search for her father. Very clever cameo placement there, Mickey.
Race To Witch Mountain is typical Disney fare with the loveable kid aliens, the “aw, shucks” big and lovable lug of a cabbie guardian, and that blasted tear inducing ending with the hugging and the violins. Aargh, I hate when they do that and I hate even more that it always works. On the other hand, the movie has some really cool moments such as a taxi vs spacecraft vs train chase, the alien brother demolishing an evil government SUV with his tiny body, and the eventual sneaking into the shady government headquarters based in Witch Mountain. Science fiction lite that everyone can enjoy as long as you don’t take it too seriously.
U.S. Box Office earnings: $24,402,214