Which is the side-story? Return to Religion or Alien Invasion?

Rating: 2/10 (5 August 2002)

SPOILERS What a disappointment! After having greatly enjoyed 6th Sense and Unbreakable, I thought for sure that this would be an enticing piece. Unfortunately, this attempt at an alien & return to religion (I'm unsure) storyline just plain, for both, sucked. An alien invasion! Alien!! This family's realization of an alien presence on Earth was boring and not evident. Sure, w/ well-staged and well-planned (you're being force-fed Hollywood here!) catch-lines and actions (family wearing aluminum foil on heads, now isn't that funny), it was delivered only humorously. But, the alien invasion was also delivered confusingly or as immaterial. As examples of this: Would anyone in his right mind who was cognizant of the fact that an alien broke into his home & was just upstairs of where they are standing find this to be a suitable time to kneel down and convey an ~2 minute birthing story to his son? We are already aware by this time that the aliens are hostile! i.e., What the hell are you thinking?! The director's character asks for forgiveness or understanding from Mel Gibson's character regarding the horrible accident that ended Mel's wife's life BUT then decides to throw in only a brief mention that he locked one of the aliens in his bread pantry before quickly driving off so don't go in there. What kind of person who is asking for forgiveness or understanding would act this way? If you've got to leave quickly, what good is it to mention something like this to Mel. Why even say anything about it? But better yet, REALIZE that we're talking about an alien here and at least show some interest in it & stay to maybe investigate what to do about the alien in the pantry! After all, it's not a stray cat we're talking about here!! Yet that's what the director's character actions convey; that it's only a stray cat. Bloody awful... I could easily go on and tear up the simplistic use of foreshadowing/signs, the remarkalbe intelligence of the Culkin character, the weak conveyance of an actual alien encounter, etc.