Super 80s Spielberg homage (sorry...)

Rating: 8/10 (20 September 2011)

Really captured the feeling of those early Spielberg family films - the constantly moving camera, soundtrack, setting, bunch of kids and subject matter were all spot on. Moreover, the story was told in a confident, self-assured way, which felt comfortable and nostalgic, yet still fresh - and not at all 'wannabe', which could have been a danger. Even the CGI was good.
There were one or two problems: the teenage daughter was way too hyper and unbelievable - in fact that whole family was too big and a tad underdeveloped - and some of the 'friendship' aspects of the storyline could have played out a little more (one of them in particular).
But those are relatively minor gripes, and the general feeling of the piece won me over. Looking forward to watching this during Christmases to come.
Don't make the same mistake that my wife did in her rush to avoid the loo queues, however - stay for the end credits!