Race to Witch Mountain - Movie Review

By Anne Brodie Mar 13, 2009, 16:07 GMT

For years, stories have circulated about a secret place in the middle of the Nevada desert, known for unexplained phenomena and strange sightings. It is called Witch Mountain, and when a Las Vegas cab driver (DWAYNE JOHNSON) finds two teens with supernatural powers in his cab, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an adventure he can’t explain. When they discover that the only chance to save the world ...more

This re-imagining of the Disney sci-fi family classic Escape to Witch Mountain stars AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig as siblings who suddenly appear in Dwayne Johnson’s cab. They have a fistful of dollars and talk like grownups – well educated and world weary adults. They use proper grammar! They must be aliens!

 It’s true. They’re aliens in a fix, stranded in tumbleweed country after their spaceship crashes who’ve landed somewhere far from it. They must return and hie themselves home but the Nevada desert is an alien place full of humans. They must figure out how to accomplish their mission, fortunately, they have super powers and more than a little faith in this agreeable cabbie.

Dwayne Johnson, the Rock, plays a down on his luck cabbie whose dealings with local gangsters may prove fatal. He owes money and they aren’t waiting.  They rough him up (The Rock?).  Seems like a fine time to leave town so he takes the lost aliens under his wing and into his cab and off they go.

The trio is set upon at every turn by scary locals and scarier government agents who have locked down the perimeter of the crash site. It happens to be at the foot of Witch Mountain a secret government facility dedicated to UFO’s. The sudden appearance of a couple of aliens is most welcome.

Our heroes face the might of military security agents led by the exceedingly frightening Ciaran Hinds.  He’s the formidable Irish actor who can’t seem to leave the American desert - “There Will Be Blood” and now this. 

Fortunately Johnson had met a scientist played by Carla Gugino some time earlier. She’s a UFO expert enroute to a paranormal convention in Las Vegas, a shamed academic obsessed with aliens. She fits nicely into the gang racing to Witch Mountain. She’s certainly concerned for the ‘children’s’ safety but the possibility of seeing an actual spaceship is irresistible. And Johnson’s a potential love match.
From that point on, the CGI rears up, dwarfing the story and the characters and deafening and blinding audience members.  The filmmakers go too far with the effects, and kill off the nice chemistry brewing between the actors. Their roles are reduced to ‘Look out!”, “Hurry!”, ‘Down here!”.  It would have been more effective with less ‘wow’ and more personality. 

Robb is a terrific young actress whose confidence and ability has grown in the last couple of years since Bridge to Terabithia and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She easily assumes her Witch Mountain characters’ otherworldly braininess.  And she’s not eerie like many over achieving youthful actors.

Ludwig does a fine job as an ‘alien’ who uses extreme focus to launch his superpowers. He and Robb have a nice rhythm and convince us they are what they’re meant to be. They even look alike.

Johnson’s appealing screen presence does not disappoint.

Fans of the 1975 film will be pleased to know stars Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann make cameo appearances as the helpful barmaid and the sheriff.  Sharp eyed fans will note that the original Winnebago’s back too.

35mm family adventure
Written by Matt Lopez, Mark Bomback, based on the book by Alexander Key
Directed by Andy Fickman
Opens March 13
MPAA Rated PG for sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements
Runtime