Review: Race To Witch Mountain

Grade: B+

Race to Witch Mountain is a movie based on (not really a remake of) 1975's Escape to Witch Mountain. This version is about two teenagers, played by AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig, who have extrodinary powers and are not of this world. They get in the cab of Jack Bruno, played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (The Game Plan, Doom), who, after they get tracked by a government agency, decides to help them recover their craft and find their way home. Along the way they recruit Dr. Alex Friedman, played by Carla Gugino (Watchmen, American Gangster), an astrophysicist who believes there is life on other planets. What follows is a funny and action packed adventure that is fun and exciting for the whole family.





Dwayne Johnson takes the helm of this movie as Jack Bruno, a Las Vegas cab driver who doesn't quite seem pleased with his job at the moment. What is a little too convenient about his character is that he used to be a wheelman for a Las Vegas crime lord, hence his advanced ability at driving cars and some account for why a such a strong guy life Bruno is driving cabs in Vegas. There is a UFO convention in town that is bringing in a lot of crazy people, but this is how he first meets Dr. Friedman. She is in town to give a lecture at the convention about the fact based possibilities of life on other planets.





They are being pursued by a government agency bent on recovering the UFO and the 2 teenage aliens that came out of it for experimentation and cover-up. This agency is being led by Agent Henry Burke, played by Ciaran Hinds, who is a seemingly evil man with no regard for the teenagers life.





This movie is a fast and very fun movie to watch. Johnson is great as Jack Bruno and is very funny at times. I do however wish that Dwayne Johnson would get back to doing non-kid friendly movies like Doom and the Rundown where he really excels. Carla Gugino was very entertaining as Dr. Friedman. There were also some very funny small roles in the movie like Chris Marquette (Fanboys, Just Friends) as Agent Pope, a dim witted low level agent. Also a great appearance by Gary Marshall as Dr. Donald Harlan, a UFO conspirator and "colleague" Of Dr. Friedman. Also some entertaining Cameos from Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann who played the main characters in the 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain.





I recommend this movie for everybody really. I believe this movie can be enjoyed by all age groups. Also any fans of the Sci-Fi genre or of the original movies will enjoy this as well probably.