Title: Earth to Echo

MPAA Rating: PG

Director: Dave Green

Starring: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese Hartwig

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

What It Is: Being separated from each other thanks to impending construction that’s tearing apart there quiet Southern Nevada neighborhood in the guise of new freeway construction, or so it seems. When the three friends Alex, Tuck and Munch notice something weird going on with all the cell phones when in the vicinity of Alex’s house. They’ve figured out its a map that leads to something. What that is will not only change their life but may lead to a last day together that they’ll never forget.

What We Think: This could very well be the modern version of Stand By Me that being said it’s hurt by a couple of things. One is Astro. The young man who we previously saw on The X-Factor is not an actor unfortunately. His lack of nuance kills some scenes as he plods through them. Reese Hartwig, while funny as Munch is sometimes flat in his delivery one scene in particular his line delivery takes me out of a heavy scene. Teo Halm’s turn here is opposite he’s on point as Alex a boy whose been through the system, and has abandonment issues, he makes Alex someone we care about, and we can’t wait to see his part in this journey.

Our Grade: B+, For a kid friendly flick this is a great coming of age film that sees us putting ourselves in our 12, 13 year old shoes. The acting isn’t all that great, but damn it if the effects on the titular extra-terrestrial are fantastic. Some of the parts within this film seem like stretches, but if your looking for a good family time at the movies this will do just fine. It has all the elements to make a great summer surprise. It’s a kids film about a small alien who just wants to go home, and theres bikes…sound familiar