Released onto DVD and Blueray today is the movie Planet 51, by Alliance Films. Directed by Jorge Blanco, this animated film has quite the lineup if celebrity voice-overs: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman and John Cleese
Sixteen year old Lem lives on Planet 51, a white picket fenced world reminiscent of 1950′s America. His life is happy, safe and predictable… until the unpredictable happens! Out of the blue, and millions of miles from home, astronaut Captain Charles ‘Chuck’ Baker’s spaceship comes crashing down right in the middle of a family barbecue! Unaware of his surroundings, Chuck is reveling in his “Big Moment”; he plants his flag triumphantly before realizing he’s not alone. Turning, he sees Planet 51′s green-skinned inhabitants staring back at him bemused! In a panic he flees, bumping into many of the panicked natives who find this “alien” creature equally as frightening.
Each Friday my daughter and I have movie night together, and she was so excited to preview this movie and help with one of ‘Moms reviews’. Planet 51 is a humorous take on the topic of alien invasion, except this time, a human from earth is the ‘invader’. When Chuck Baker land on this planet which resembles the town of Pleasantville, mass hysteria evoke a mob-like attack on capturing Chuck. This movie has a lot of laughs and chuckles, mostly at the expense of some of our own preconceived ideas on aliens and space inhabitants. It has action and suspense as Chuck Baker tries to hide from government officials and devise a plan to get his spaceship back, with the help of his new friends. Of course there’s a little love story in there too, as Lem tries to work up the courage to ask out his neighbor and hippie-wannabee, Neera.
Though I didn’t find it to be a laugh-out-loud movie, I do think it has it’s very cute moments. Besides, it captured my daughters’ attention and she loved it – especially taking a liking to Rover {the enthusiastic dog-like land seeker sent to take pictures of this unknown planet}. We enjoyed this animated alien adventure, and ended up watching Plant 51 again while the Twins napped, the very next day.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh that looks like a great movie! My kids would love it!
That movie looks cute!!! I love the little aliens! I need to go buy or rent this for the kids!
Captain Charles reminds me of Buzz Lightyear…hehe. I think that kids will enjoy this one. I think I’ll love this one also. Thanks for the nice review.