Race to Witch Mountin

Starring
Dwayne Johnson (Jack Bruno)
AnnaSophia Robb (Sara)
Alexander Ludwig (Seth)
Carla Gugino (Dr. Alex Friedman)

Directed by Andy Fickman

The Witch Mountain series were among my favorite Disney films as a child. The alien brother and sister who find each other and their special abilities only to have to outwit evil adults in order to go home. That was the coolest.

The newest installment (Race to Witch Mountain) retains only the shell of the originals. That doesn't mean it is bad only that it is different. The originals relied more on the actual storyline to move the film. Race to Witch Mountain relies on action and special effects instead of storyline.

The story begins with flashes of UFO history. The viewer knows instantly that this is a film about aliens (huge difference from the original where you find out gradually). Our "hero" is former criminal trying to make it as a straight man (Jack Bruno) who unwittingly ends up transporting the kids to a remote cabin where they recover a data machine that will save their planet. Throw in some overzealous military types, a couple of angry muscle types and a sci-fi convention and you have a film.

These kids are not trying to get home. They are trying to save their home from environmental collapse. Yes, even Disney is on the environmental bandwagon. This is where the film fails. No longer can we have a film that involves kids wanting to go home. Instead they must have a greater purpose that reflects national, global and even "universal" goals. This aspect of the storyline really is a disservice to the viewer.

The film succeeds in its cameos. Both Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann appear in the film. They were the original kids from Witch Mountain. Their cameos go beyond a nod to the past. Both of their characters are actually pivotal to the story. The best cameo in the film though belongs to Garry Marshall. God I love Garry Marshall. The man is funny.


The bonus in this film is Dwayne Johnson's acting. While I doubt he will ever be able to compete with the likes of Tom Hanks there is tremendous growth in his abilities since The Game Plan. This is most obvious in one of the cab scenes where you can feel Jack Bruno's fear. It is this quality that makes Dwayne Johnson one of my favorite actors to watch. He is willing to take a chance. He willing to work at the craft to make himself better. Plus he ain't so bad on the eyes either.

Would I pay to see it again? Maybe
DVD? Sure. Going to have to get the whole series though