Kidzworld reviewed the animated movie, 3-D space adventure film Escape From Planet Earth.
By: Lynn Barker
You are a cute, blue alien and your big, beefy brother is a hero on your planet. You are a science nerd dweeb who is really the power behind his success. Can you step up when it’s your turn to save the galaxy?
Homeworld Hero
Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a glam hero astronaut to the citizens of Baab as he goes out on missions of rescue and daring do. At home in mission control really running everything, is Scorch’s older bro Gary (voice of Rob Corddry from Warm Bodies) who must answer to head controller Lena (Jessica Alba). Scorch’s adventures are reported worldwide by news anchor Gabby (Sofia Vergara), his girlfriend.
Gary (center), Scorch and alien pals
Off to the Dark Planet
Scorch answers a distress call to the “Dark Planet” before his bro is ready to send him. Gary quits his job, refusing to help and dimwitted Scorch is thus captured by the “Dark Planet’s” military and taken to Area 51 (yep, the “Dark Planet” is Earth).
In the Cellblock
We learn that Area 51 is full of aliens captured over the years and they are responsible for inventing every cool gadget on Earth from cellphones to flashdrives. Gary tries to rescue his bro but is also captured by General Shanker’s (William Shatner’s) men. Also in the cells are a three-eyed slug named Thurman (George Lopez), a big, red one-eyed alien named Io (Jane Lynch) and nutty therapist alien called Doc (Craig Robinson).
Gary in Mission Control
Back Home
Gary’s wife Kira (Sarah Jessica Parker) and 12-year-old son Kip (Jonathan Morgan Heit) are desperately trying to get a suspiciously unwilling Lena to rescue Scorch and Gary. Since she was a rocket scientist before getting married, Kira decides to take matters into her own hands before little Kip does.
Gary's son Kip
Evil Plan
The General wants the aliens to build him a “defense weapon” before they are allowed to go home. Of course there is no “defense” to the weapon. It’s an alien planet destroyer and our gang realizes they must destroy it and bust out of Area 51 before all their planets are destroyed!
The evil General
Wrapping Up
Whether for evil or good, Escape From Planet Earth is full of strong female characters doing their ‘thing” with great flair and mostly success. The boys couldn’t really do without them. The movie’s themes are solid: brother/family love can conquer all, brains can be preferable over brawn, etc. and the voice actors do a great job of giving personality to the characters.
Gary gets a slurpee brain freeze!
Except for one twist, the plot is pretty predictable, doesn’t have the emotional depth of a Pixar film and there are more slap-happy jokes for kids and tweens than for teens and adults. Would the film make an entertaining family outing? Sure but if you are an older teen, expect your younger bro or sis to get more out of it than you will. For feel-good fun we’ll go 3 stars.
Escape From Planet Earth Movie Rating: 
The poster
