‘Witch Mountain’ lacks originality

Fri., March 13, 2009

Christy Lemire Associated Press

If you grew up in the 1970s, you probably have some fond moviegoing memory of “Escape to Witch Mountain.”

Sure, the special effects look dated – the flying Winnebago with Eddie Albert at the wheel, for example. But the 1975 action-adventure tale of an orphaned brother and sister with psychic powers still holds up. What kid wouldn’t want to communicate with animals telepathically, or magically make stuff hit a bully in the face?

With “Race to Witch Mountain” – a re-imagining, not a remake, to use the vernacular – the kids are about six years older, which depletes the story of some of its sweetness. It’s also harder to care about them because they’re not really the ones driving the story; they’re literally passengers in what is essentially yet another family-friendly vehicle for Dwayne Johnson.

The artist formerly known as The Rock stars as Jack Bruno, an ex-con trying to carve out a clean life as a Las Vegas cab driver – a role that once again requires him to play a tough guy with a soft heart.

One day, alien brother and sister Seth and Sara (Alexander Ludwig and AnnaSophia Robb) mysteriously appear in the back seat of his car, produce a wad of cash and ask him to take them to an indeterminate location.

Their arrival there is crucial to the survival of their planet, they eventually explain in politely robotic English. But first, they must endure a series of repetitive and bombastic car chases, as they try to hide from both government baddies with nefarious plans (led by Ciaran Hinds) and an alien assassin on a mission to destroy them.

The film is all noise and action, and overedited shootouts with blaring music. It has none of the small charms of the original, though the ethereally pretty Robb (“Bridge to Terabithia”) has a likable presence, and she gets to do some of that same turn-the-animals-against-their- owners routine.

Original “Escape” stars Iake Eissinmann and Kim Richards make knowing cameos at a small-town diner. And yes, there is a Winnebago, driven by wisecracking Garry Marshall as a UFO conspiracy expert.

If there really are aliens out there with superpowers, though, couldn’t they have come up with a better script?

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