Has It's Faults and Plot Holes But Still Worthwhile

Rating: 5/10 (12 November 2009)

The alien invasion movie is the oldest but best draw in basic sci fi movies, so MNS's take on this shopworn plot gets some pluses for originality. He is the type of guy who is so earnest and such a good filmmaker that you can enjoy this movie even though parts of it are just plain dumb like schmaltzy sentimental fatherly monologues about his children's' birth during the scariest part of the movie. There were enough and incessant Christian and spiritual references to fill 2 months of sermons with near idolatry of the preacher's dead wife thrown in for a Mary hail. But the lamest part of the movie were the aliens: the weakest, most incompetent bunch of losers to ever build interstellar ships and invade earth. The Boy Scouts could have driven them off. But it was scary in parts, as well as thoughtful, almost too thoughtful. It was fun seeing Mel play a introverted, non heroic sort of family guy, not the demented kill them all father he played in "The Patriot" or "Braveheart" or a 100 other ones. The best actor was Rory Culkin playing his young son, who is much better than his more famous but obnoxious brother, The daughter, precocious 6 year old Boo, was played well by a wee actress named Abigail Breslin. While young actresses & actors are natural scene stealers, she was precious and enjoyable. Certainly better than that screechy obnoxious pre-teen monster Dakota Fanning played in the latest version of "War of the World". In that movie the main disappointment was not having both kids killed off for their general useless bratty behavior in a time of extreme danger and emergency. One more note, if you are looking for special effects there are next to none. There are no fancy ships, death rays or mass death and destruction.