CNS Movie Review: Aliens in the Attic

Aliens in the Attic

By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Fans of the CBS-TV series "Everybody Loves Raymond" may appreciate a scene in the comic adventure "Aliens in the Attic" (Fox/Regency) that features Doris Roberts -- who on the sitcom portrayed Ray Romano's pesky mom, Marie -- in a slow-motion, high-flying martial arts-style smackdown.

Roberts' otherwise matronly and nurturing character, Nana Rose, gets involved in this unlikely confrontation while under the influence of a mind-control device that the aggressive extraterrestrials of the title have brought with them from their home planet.

This quartet of unwelcome, gnomelike visitors, Skip (voice of J.K. Simmons), Tazer (voice of Thomas Haden Church), Sparks (voice of Josh Peck) and Razor (voice of Kari Wahlgren) land on the roof of the Victorian-style home where Rose's extended family has gathered for a summer vacation. Since the aliens' secret weapon only works on adults, it's up to the younger generation, led by cousins Tom (Carter Jenkins) and Jake (Austin Butler), to thwart their plans for world domination.

Director John Schultz's mostly harmless fantasy offers lessons about family unity and the value of education. But the thin script, co-written by Mark Burton and Adam F. Goldberg from a story by Burton, also includes dialogue inappropriate for younger viewers, who might otherwise enjoy the proceedings most.

These brief patchy spots mainly concern the relationship between Tom's older sister, Bethany (Ashley Tisdale), and her smarmy boyfriend, Ricky (Robert Hoffman).

Though he manages to ingratiate himself with Bethany's parents, Stuart (Kevin Nealon) and Nina (Gillian Vigman), Ricky is a schemer who passes himself off as a high school student, when in fact he's already in college, and who sabotages his own car as a ploy to spend the night with Bethany.

In the end, Ricky's plot comes to nothing, as he too becomes the zombielike victim of the invaders' mechanism. Hoffman's delightfully daffy performance in these scenes provides the comic highlight of what is, overall, only a mildly diverting intergalactic escapade.

The film contains a few sexual references, occasional innuendo and at least one crass term. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.

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Copyright (c) 2009 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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