Alexander Key's original novel had a central mystery that formed the basis for the 1970s film adaptation: who were these two enigmatic children, why were their memories cloudy, and, most importantly, why did they possess rather unusual powers? I guess, since this new version completely does away with the mystery and just provides the answer more or less up front, it's not really a spoiler to post it here: they are aliens. In the original film, this revelation was a slowly unfolding realization on the part of the kids, one that added an element of intrigue to the tale of two apparently hapless orphan souls who were at the mercy of ominous people chasing them for a reason they couldn't discern. In this update, we instead are pretty much handed the little nugget of the kids' real identity from almost the get go, as they mysteriously appear in taxi driver Jack Bruno's (Johnson) car and then proceed to manifest several interesting powers.

This is not a thoughtful or deep film by any stretch, and in fact when it attempts to link big picture items like the war on terror or, to a lesser degree, environmental concerns (the kids are here to, among other reasons which I won't post for spoiler purposes, scope out our planet since theirs is dying due to pollution), it largely falls flat. And while there are at least one too many over the top car chases in this film, Race to Witch Mountain lives up to the verb that starts its title and provides one pretty exciting fast moving action sequence after another which provides the film a spirited pace.

While Alexander Ludwig, who portrays alien boy Seth, proves that his stilted work in The Seeker: The Dark is Rising was no mere fluke, AnnaSophia Robb manages to invest her Sara, Seth's sibling (I'm feeling alliterative all of a sudden) with an unexpected degree of emotion, helping to bring the climax some measure of heart. Carla Gugino, certainly one of the most unbearably wasted talents, is again left to muddle through an underwritten and cliché ridden role, but, as is her wont, she pulls it off with a fair degree of spunk and sparkle. But it's Johnson, again exceeding what are probably admittedly low expectations, who carries this film, and he does it quite effortlessly. He's firmly out of the pure action-adventure mode here (despite some nice stunt work, especially in the climax), but he's made that transition pretty effortlessly. Johnson has an easy self-deprecatory style that suits this character (and this film generally) to a tee. While he never quite winks directly at the audience, he comes close a couple of times. His repartee with the kids, Gugino, and errant dog Junkyard is breezy and very enjoyable for most of this film. I've stated this before, in other "Rock" outings, but Johnson is quickly becoming one of my favorite male leads in films. And, no, I'm not ashamed to admit that.

The film does sport some good to excellent special effects, certainly head and shoulders above the 1975 iteration. That said, there's a decidedly low tech moment late in the film, when the spaceship takes a little jaunt around Witch Mountain, which seems to deliberately evoke the less than digital perfection that defined the first film. Director Andy Fickman stages the proceedings very well, often tipping his hat to original director John Hough. In fact, the film is filled with allusions to the original version (something detailed in an enjoyable extra), including cameos by the two original "kids," now middle aged character actors. (There are some other fun cameos by everyone from putative UFO abductee Whitley Streiber to Garry Marshall).

Race to Witch Mountain was Disney's first film to open at number one at the boxoffice in 2009. I'm not sure if that's a testament to its intrinsic quality or the dearth of product available to the viewing public that week. Joking aside, this is an enjoyable little romp with nothing much to say, but with some fun action sequences to keep things hopping. The ending sets up what will probably be a sequel in a year or so, so we can determine then if Disney is remaking Return from Witch Mountain.

The Blu-ray

Video:
Race to Witch Mountain arrives in a 2.40:1 OAR with an AVC codec. Colors are strong and vibrant throughout this presentation, with very good detail. I found contrast just a little lacking in some darkly lit scenes, notably the first underground sequence when the kids lead Jack into the "secret tunnel" behind the "pimped out refrigerator." Overall, though, this is a nice, if not exceptional, looking BD, with some great shots of Las Vegas and the surrounding countryside. CGI and other special effects elements look good to spectacular.

Sound:
The DTS HD-MA 5.1 mix is very, very good, with some great use of surround channels and pretty thundering use of LFE at times. You'll find some unusually immersive experiences in some unexpected places. While your assumptions that the flying sequences will provide some great aural moments are correct, there are some very nice "quieter" surround moments, including Jack's initial exploration of the abandoned shack he drops the kids off in. Fidelity and dynamic range are very impressive throughout. French and Spanish DD 5.1 mixes are also available, as are subtitles in all soundtrack languages.

Extras:
Not too many bonuses "pimp out" (to quote Jack Bruno) this release. On the BD itself, we have bloopers and deleted scenes (with optional commentary) and the more enjoyable trip through the allusions to the original film mentioned above. There is an additional SD-DVD included in this two disc set, as is Disney's new (and laudable) standard operating procedure.

Final Thoughts:
Pure escapism with a strong fantasy element, Race to Witch Mountain boasts some great action sequences and a very appealing lead performance by Dwayne Johnson. It's no classic, as, frankly, neither was its original source film, so don't expect a life changing event here. But for a good, fun hour and a half with your family, you could do a lot worse. Recommended.

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"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet