By John Garces/entertainment editor
In the kid-friendly remake of Escape to Witch Mountain, a cabbie finds himself suddenly thrust into the middle of a plot to kidnap two siblings for government research in Race to Witch Mountain.
The Disney-piloted remake, directed by Andy Flickman, stars Dwayne Johnson as Jack Bruno, a cab driver who has to get the two kids to a secret location or risk the extermination of life on Earth.
The two siblings — Sara, played by AnnaSophia Robb, and Seth, played by Alexander Ludwig —eventually reveal themselves to Bruno as aliens after government officials, led by Henry Burke (played by Ciaran Hinds) begin to chase after them.
The movie is highlighted by Johnson’s interaction with the teens and filled with typical lighthearted Disney moments.
Bruno eventually enlists the help of Dr. Alex Friedman, a well-known expert in the field of UFOs and supernatural behavior, played by Carla Gugino, to help get the kids to Witch Mountain safely.
They receive help from fellow UFO expert Dr. Donald Harlan, played by Garry Marshall, and also try to stay one step ahead of the Siphon, an alien creature. Siphon tries to steal the contraption the kids use to locate their ship.
The two adults, Bruno and Friedman, also begin to grow closer to each other as the journey unfolds.
Just when it looks like they’re cornered at the local establishment, Sara creates a distraction by using her paranormal powers that allow the four to escape capture and trade in Bruno’s beaten-up cab for an RV that takes them the rest of the way to Witch Mountain.
Just when it looks as though they will make it to their destination unharmed, Burke and his team of government officials arrive on the scene, drugging and kidnapping the kids and threatening Bruno, an ex-con, with arrest as well as menacing Friedman with various character-assaulting accusations.
Just when it seems like all hope is lost, the pair commandeer the vehicle they were being driven away in and return to Witch Mountain for the film’s final showdown.
While fans of the original film might not recognize this remake, Race to Witch Mountain proves an enjoyable use of 96 minutes. Kids of all ages should enjoy this film.
