Feeble brained Martains happen to hear a Halloween re-broadcast of Orson Welles' legendary radio production of "The War of the Worlds". They, of course, don't know that it's fiction, and think they're hearing legitimate orders to invade planet Earth. So they descend on a typical small American town named Big Bean, and wreak all sorts of havoc while the hapless local citizens try to deal with the problem.
This is just this viewers' humble opinion, naturally, but there was too much in this PG rated sci-fi comedy that didn't work for him. The movie is lightly likable, but not particularly funny. Its good moments (such as the pesky Martians breaking into song) are few and far between. Instead of being funny, it's too often overly silly and tiresome. The makeup effects, animatronics, and visuals aren't bad at all, but they deserved better material. (There's also a cute robot in order to appeal to the youngest members of the audience.) In one goofy touch, one of the Martians, a dude named Blaznee (played and voiced by Kevin Thompson) speaks in an amusingly bad Jack Nicholson style delivery. This viewers' favourite line of his: "There goes my insurance."
The performances are mostly lame, but appropriate enough for this sort of no brainer entertainment. Douglas Barr ('The Fall Guy') is the new sheriff, Ariana Richards ("Tremors", "Jurassic Park") his lonely, depressed daughter. Ever delightful Royal Dano is a hoot as always, playing a farmer somewhat reminiscent of the guy he played in "Killer Klowns from Outer Space". Also among those playing the Martians are Jimmy Briscoe, Tony Cox ("Bad Santa"), Debbie Lee Carrington ("Total Recall" '90), and Tommy Madden.
Fairly harmless stuff for family audiences; the kids probably won't be too judgmental.
Four out of 10.
This is just this viewers' humble opinion, naturally, but there was too much in this PG rated sci-fi comedy that didn't work for him. The movie is lightly likable, but not particularly funny. Its good moments (such as the pesky Martians breaking into song) are few and far between. Instead of being funny, it's too often overly silly and tiresome. The makeup effects, animatronics, and visuals aren't bad at all, but they deserved better material. (There's also a cute robot in order to appeal to the youngest members of the audience.) In one goofy touch, one of the Martians, a dude named Blaznee (played and voiced by Kevin Thompson) speaks in an amusingly bad Jack Nicholson style delivery. This viewers' favourite line of his: "There goes my insurance."
The performances are mostly lame, but appropriate enough for this sort of no brainer entertainment. Douglas Barr ('The Fall Guy') is the new sheriff, Ariana Richards ("Tremors", "Jurassic Park") his lonely, depressed daughter. Ever delightful Royal Dano is a hoot as always, playing a farmer somewhat reminiscent of the guy he played in "Killer Klowns from Outer Space". Also among those playing the Martians are Jimmy Briscoe, Tony Cox ("Bad Santa"), Debbie Lee Carrington ("Total Recall" '90), and Tommy Madden.
Fairly harmless stuff for family audiences; the kids probably won't be too judgmental.
Four out of 10.