The Boov always run away. It is this excellent strategy that has kept them alive and prosperous, flying through space from one planet to the next.
The Gorg always attack. They are in pursuit of a sacred stone that the Boov possess without knowing its true potential. When the Gorg arrive, the Boov leave.
Oh (voiced by Jim Parsons) is an unpopular, awkward Boov recently relocated to a planet called Earth. Tip (voiced by Rihanna) is a human girl who failed to get processed and shipped to Australia with her mother. When Oh accidentally sends an electronic invitation to his house warming party to everyone in the galaxy, including the feared Gorg, he becomes a fugitive. On the run he bumps into Tip searching for her mother. Together they will discover there is nothing more important than having a home.
We say, “Home is a bit off target.”
TAYLOR: I enjoyed Home but I think a lot of the kids in the audience didn’t. After the action or comedy scenes, much of which we had seen in the trailers, there were dialogue bits where characters explained what was happening. Much of the dialogue was very snappy, perhaps a little to quick for very young kids to pick up the plot. Boov Captain Smek (Steve Martin) was particularly frantic. I thought the jokes were fun. The story was clean and presented its themes readily. Yet, perhaps like the kids in the audience, I left the theatre thinking, “Yeah, so what? Next!”
HOWE: I know what you mean; it has to take something special in the animated movie category to get me to really enjoy it; Toy Story and The Lego Movie spring to mind.
This movie, on the other hand, will probably drift to the back of my memory box, where it will stay there like I’d never even seen it.
But let’s ask my little boy to see what he thought of it, seeing it is aimed for the younger audience.
FENIN: It is about Oh finding a great home. It is a little happy and a little sad. He changes colour if he is happy or sad or angry.
HOWE: Did you find it funny?
FENIN: Sometimes, but not too much.
TAYLOR: That pretty much sums it up, “It’s a movie, all right.” There are lots of Rihanna song snippets, cute moments and slapstick. It is in no way rude, except perhaps for a bit of alien crunking. (If you don’t know, don’t ask.) If your little boy or girl wants to see Home, take them. It’s a colourful, fun way to kill 90 minutes, but I don’t think the film is an instant classic.
Taylor gives Home 2.5 amazing bubble cars out of 5.
Howe gives it 2.5 purring cats out of 5
Fenin gives it 5 Ohs out of 5.
Reel Reviews with Brian Taylor and Peter Howe runs every Friday and Sunday in The Morning Star.
