Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

Dwayne Johnson's got it going on: He's chiseled in face and physique, he's smart and has great comic timing, and kids love the guy. He nimbly plays off his child costars in Game Plan and Race to Witch Mountain, where he comes off like a Doberman when he needs to be but one with a golden heart when kids need him. In his latest action/comedy vehicle, Race to Witch Mountain, Dwayne plays a former mafia wheelman who's determined to go straight -- and what Dwayne sets his mind to, he achieves. He picks up two fares -- or rather, the teens pick him -- but getting them to their destination ends up being a bigger challenge than expected, because the teens are space aliens in disguise, with mysterious powers and a mission to save Earth from imminent destruction. Oh yes, and a shadowy government organization is determined to capture them -- the kind that can make you disappear without even a "We could tell you, but then we'd have to kill you." This remake of the Witch Mountain movies, which ends with the blatant promise of a sequel, relies on extended adrenaline-inducing action and chase scenes as well as high-tech special effects. As such, it's far from usual Disney fare and closer to the Bourne or Transporter movies though with special effects in the vein of Jumper or Push. All the adults and kids in the opening-weekend theater seemed pleased with the show; both my 11-year-old viewing companions enjoyed it and my son promptly chimed in at the end, "We need to buy it." Speaking as an adult, Race was every bit as good as I hoped. (My favorite scene appeared in the previews where the boy stops a pursuing SUV.) Our alien teens (A Bridge to Terabithia's Annasophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) play their roles to a tee. My guess is that few adults will see Race without the impetus of kids 8 and older but if you have such a motivation, here is a movie that's fast-paced and tense with comedic relief and a hero who's rock-steady in keeping a promise. 4 stars.