Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007)

This live-action take on the popular alien-tech-powered superhero cartoon series for kiddos is pretty good for special effects and passable for plot and acting. I like the Men-in-Black-style subplot (esp. the elevator and alter-egos) that causes Ben to say, "I guess Bellwood isn't so boring after all." Robert Picardo brings an understated humor to his role as school principal. Graham Phillips does well as Ben Tennyson. Haley Ramm does the best as his smarter sister Gwen. Don McManus and Beth Littleford are a subtle hoot as parents intent on treating Ben with "enlightened" or "new age" sensibilities. The strongest and my favorite character in the cartoon series, Grandpa Max, is played by Lee Majors as sort of a cross between Nick Nolte and Jimmy Buffet. Christien Anholt is pure cardboard as the uberego xenovillain Eon. The climactic scenes feel like a complete mishmash or hatchet job -- confusing and cartoonish in the worst sense. Just barely 3 stars. (9/1/08)