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I
was put off by Home right from the
beginning by the “language” invented for the aliens from another planet, called
the Boov. It slaughters the
English language by messing with the grammar, e.g., “I needs help. You are arresting (arrested). Can I come into the out?” I’ll be interested to hear what
children actually think of this, but I doubt they will find it very funny. Apparently, the grammar is in Adam
Rex’s 2007 book, Home, on which the
film is based, and his “Smek Smeries” have been very popular, so maybe children
do get a kick out of the messed up grammar. The book was adapted for film by Tom J. Astle and Matt
Ember. Home is a Dreamworks 3D
production directed by Tim Johnson (Over
the Hedge, Antz).
The
story is slow to get started with anything meaningful or entertaining. We have to listen to the insufferable
Captain Smek (Martin) demonstrate his idiocy. For one thing, he has led his people to earth on the run from
his archenemy, the Gorg, mistakenly thinking he is helping earthlings by
relocating them to a desert somewhere.
This is done by gently vacuuming them up into the sky. But one little girl, Gratuity “Tip”
Tucci (Rihanna), has managed not to be captured, so she still remains. She encounters one of the runaways from
the Boov tribe, Oh (Jim Parsons), who is on the run from being arrested for
making too many mistakes. For
instance, the lonely Oh decided to have a party and mistakenly sent the
invitation to the Gorg along with everyone else. After major difficulties in getting to know each other, Tip
and Oh become allies in trying to find Tip’s mother, who was taken to the
Desert Planet.
There
are sequences with Tip’s car and Oh, which are delightfully entertaining,
especially when he’s able to convert it into a space ship to aid in the mother
search. As they get to know each
other, Oh learns the value of family—something missing from the Boov
culture—and Tip learns that the Boov aren’t all bad.
One
of the most enjoyable aspects of the film is the music. Rihanna created a concept album for it,
including her “Towards the Sun”, and incorporated additional songs by others,
such as one by Jennifer Lopez (voice of mother Lucy), “Feel the Light.” Of course, since the film is for
younger children, the filmmakers again find it necessary to include fart jokes,
toilet paper scenes out of context, and adding a 3rd option to #1
and #2. It amuses me that
filmmakers continue to do this; some children laugh, but most don’t. So I’ve concluded it must be the
filmmakers’ own preoccupations.
Except
maybe for the appreciation of family, it is only at the end of the film that
some of Home’s important messages
come through, and these are gone through so fast I doubt children will pay much
attention. They include messages
about change being something good at times; it’s OK to make mistakes; and it’s
important to have courage, face your problems, and deal with them.
Home isn’t a bad film, and younger children are likely to enjoy
it.
Home, Dreamworks’
elementary sci-fi adventure
Grade: C By Donna R. Copeland
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