Chow’s act has grown a bit old

I think Stephen Chow’s schtick has run its course. I just sat though his new film, “CJ7,” which is supposed to be a variation on “E.T.: Extra-Terrestrial” but is more like “Kung Fu Hustle” meets “Teletubbies.”

It was entertaining to see the super-athletic special effects in both “Shaolin Soccer” and “Kung Fu Hustle.” But the same stuff in “”CJ7” felt derivative. And stupid.

There are moments. Jiao Xu , who plays the son (but who actually is a girl), has a certain screen presence. And some of the comic bits work well enough, But the film never explains why an alien pet should come to Earth, why to China, or even if the pet is an animal or some alien being with super powers.

Overall, though, the film is slow and long and just a tad boring.

Below: The trailer for the film “CJ7.”