What 20th Century Fox Says:
Aliens In The Attic, co-scripted by one of the writers of Madagascar and the Academy Award-winning Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, is an adventure/comedy about kids on a family vacation who must fight off an attack by knee-high alien invaders with world-destroying ambitions - while the youngsters parents remain clueless about the battle.
It's the Pearsons versus the aliens who "came from upstairs<" in an all-out battle that will decide the fate of the Earth - and kick-off the ultimate summer vacation.
It all starts as a meteor shower rockets across the dark galaxy. Four glowing pods sparkle and crackle while hiding behind the meteor show. A mysterious force makes the meteor shower turn a hard right towards a bright blue ball in the distance - planet Earth.
In a comfortable suyburban house in Michigan, Stuart Pearson and his wife NIna head a family that includes adorable seven-year-old Hannah; 15 year-old Tom, a techno-geek whose grades have gone south; and big sister Bethany, who's just returned from a secret outing with boyfriend Ricky Dillman. Deciding the family needs some good old-fashioned togetherness, Tom pakcs up the clan and heads to a three-story holiday house in the middle of nowhere. Joining them is Uncle Nate, Nate's son Jake, deer old Nana Rose and identical 12 year-old twins Art and Lee. An unexpected arrival is Bethany's beau Ricky, who wrangles an overnight visit with the extended family.
As day turns to night, dark storm clouds start swirling around the house. Suddenly, four glowing objects shoot toward the roof, The alien crew inside the objects is make up of Skip, the tough commander, Tazer, a muscle-boung ude armed to the teeth, Razor, a lethal female alien soldier; and Sparks a geeky four-armed techie, who is the only non-threatening alien intruder.
Ricky is placed under the spell of the aliens, courtesy of a high-tech mind-control device and plug implanted into the base of his skull; Ricky's mind and actions now belong to the alien crew. The alien "Zirkonians," via Ricky, lay claim to the planet. LIke a puppet/robot/zombie, Ricky moves towards the boys - but Tom and Jake break free.
It isn't long before all five kids see the trange new arrivals, Tom takes charge andd the kids come to realize the alien mind control device only works on grownups, giving them a fighting chance against the invaders - and the responsiblity to protect the adults by keeping the aliens' existence a secret. Left to their own devices, the kids unleash their imaginations, creating makeshift weapons, like piping ingeniously rigged as a home made potato spud gun. They even learn to use the mind controller. First order of business; taking control of Ricky - and truning his robot/zombie/idiot actions against himself and the aliens.
The adults remain oblivious to the alien presence and figure the kids are being...kids...and insist that the youngsters partake in a fishing expedition. Meanwhile, a touching friendship is struck between Hannah and Sparks, the friendly alien with four arms and hands. Unlike his alien cohorts, Sparks has no stomach for battle; he just wants to return home to his Zirkonian family.
Nana Rose comes under the spell of the aline mind control device, which gives her super-human powers. She comes to the kids' rescue - and into a battle with Ricky, who is again under aline control. Nana Rose gives Ricky a huge jolt causing the alien plug to dislodge. Skip joins the kids fight and uses his four arms relentlessly creating devices that eventually help the kids fight on.
As the battle continutes, the laughs, action and danger escalate. But the kids rise to the occasion, finding new strengths and self-sufficiency. And it becomes clear that the aliens never stood a chance...
OUR REVIEW:
Aliens in the Attic touches on many issues facing teens today, relationships with boys, parents, friends, school and finding yourself are just a few. The overall message is to be true to who you are and not follow the crowds just to fit in. While the kids do learn to work together as a family and a team, the parents in the movie are clueless...probably how most teens view their parents...however this is obviously exaggerated to be funny in the movie.
Violence in the movie is mostly cartoonish and while the aliens threaten to destroy earth several times, they are hardly scary. There is no blood or death and fight scenes are mild. Sexual content is used more in this movie than most kids’ movies, with heavy flirting between Bethany and her boyfriend, several references to “hooking up” or “getting to second base”. Parents can expect plenty of name calling but very little bad language otherwise and there are no references to smoking, drugs or drinking.
Overall, Aliens in the Attic is a cute story with some elements more appropriate for older kids dealing with some of the same issues.
