Wizards vs Aliens

Alien vs Predator. Freddy vs Jason. Abraham Lincoln vs Vampires. Vampires vs Werewolves. Cowboys vs Aliens. Wizards vs Aliens. Wait, Wizards vs Aliens!? No, not Gandalf verses a xenomorph unfortunately, but more like a 16 year old Brit kid who happens to belong to a family of wizards battling aliens who have an energy crisis.

The 'versus' template has worn so thin it's nothing but rags desperately clinging onto a decrepit corpse that's somehow still moving against all odds. Like a zombie. Zombie vs Cockneys. Wait, let's focus on the TV series at hand.

Wizards vs Aliens. Yes, it's got a horrible title, but at least it's upfront about what it is. It's not trying to be anything else. Though it may be riding on the coat-tails of Harry Potter wizardry, it's not aspiring for a title like "Wizards versus the indomitable beings from another realm".

This DVD comprises the first six episodes of the twelve episode TV series that began airing on CBBC last October. A second season is already being filmed. Created by Russell T Davies (Torchwood) and Phil Ford (The Sarah Jane Adventures), Wizards Vs Aliens features tacky special effects and broad-strokes humour, and yet is still somehow appealing.

The story follows the clichéd plot points of wizards (starring Scott Haran as an outgoing football-loving dude in contrast to the usual mopy archetype) hiding their magic from common peasants like us, and the burden they have to shoulder. It's a more carefree version of the Harry Potter universe, simply because the jokes consist of things you'd love to do if you had powers, like flinging annoying alarm clocks against the wall with the click of your fingers. Plus aliens.

Aliens headed by Brian Blessed! Mercilessly evil, they're a pretty dour but horrible looking bunch. Episode three and four feature the hilarious addition of little gremlin type monsters going haywire, and by the mid-way point of the first season Scott Haran's character has assembled a motley crew of friends to help him in his battle against aliens.

Obviously this series is not aimed at adults, but if even this moderately jaded film-lover can get a few chuckles out of each episode, then it's probably a goldmine for young teens. Coupled with Doctor Who, BBC has covered young and older fans of whimsical comedy with a sci-fantasy bent.