Tim Johnson (director)
Dreamworks (studio)
U (certificate)
96 minutes (length)
27 March 2015 (released)
14 March 2015
The Boov are a race of aliens from the distant universe. They are emotionless and logical, with a hint of trembling fear. They have been fleeing from their arch enemies and have found that Earth might just be the right place to hide out and make a new home. Oh is a Boov but one that doesn't fit in. He is clumsy, annoying and way to human for anyone from his planet. When the Boov cleared out the Earth of humans and moved them to Australia (lots of space), they missed someone. A young girl called Tip who is the only human left, She wants to find her mother, who is somewhere with the other humans. When Oh inadvertently sends a House warming email with the new location of the Boov out to the entire universe he becomes a fugitive. When he then bumps into Tip while hiding, adventure beckons....
I loved Home. It is the sort of film that Saturdays were made for. Fun, Laugh out loud and even a little tender. The story of two outsiders looking for the thing that will fulfill them, is a universal theme and one that strikes a code. Sometimes films aimed at kids try to make the film grand standing and showy. This often fails as it dilutes the emotions and our connection to the characters. Home doesn't do this. Instead it has less show and far more grow. Tip and Oh bond. They talk, fight, laugh and cry. We have prat falls and clever set pieces. Oh is funny and Jim Parsons has the best lines as the bumbling alien. He delivers these with expert timing and though I am not a fan of the Big Bang Theory, I can see why he is so popular. Rihanna is also very good in a role that needed a light touch and she gives it. Bold, Brass and even a little tender. Pig the cat is a delight as a vibrating ball of fluff, that tempers both sides.
Visually the film rocks. The 3D is rendered well and it complements not to over shadow events more to enhance them. it is sad that some of the 3D films of late lived for the use, solely as a marketing ploy. This hasn't done that and I personally am very pleases to see this happen. So where is the rub Simon, I hear you scream. Well it didnt score the elusive 10. It scored an almost 10. The reason is simple. The length of the tender scenes will annoy younger kids, those of which have shorter attention spans. This is not a criticism of either child or film as such. It is just that I felt it need addressing. Dreamworks has made a few miss fires. I am thinking of Peabody as the main one here. They have also had a break even but poorly received film in Penguins (which I loved). This film will hopefully be the sure fire hit that I feel it deserves.
Go on then with Easter coming up....have a Bubble....Bath....Laugh....I tried a joke and it sucked...