Earth to Echo (2014)- short movie review

Plot Summary:

In Relativity's PG summer family adventure movie, Tuck, Munch and Alex are a trio of inseparable friends whose lives are about to change. Their neighborhood is being destroyed by a highway construction project that is forcing their families to move away. But just two days before they must part ways, the boys begin receiving a strange series of signals on their phones. Convinced something bigger is going on, they team up with another school friend, Emma, and set out to look for the source of their phone signals. What they discover is something beyond their wildest imaginations: a small alien who has become stranded on Earth. In need of their help, the four friends come together to protect the alien and help him find his way home. This journey, full of wonder and adventure, is their story, and their secret. (c) Relativity

Movie Specs:

Rating- PG

Sex and Nudity- 0/10 (none)

Language- 0/10 (nothing notable)

Violence- 1/10 (Kidnapping, flying debris)

Drugs-0/10 (no drugs)

Length- 1hr 29 mins

Review:

Earth to Echo is E.T.’s pubescent sibling. It manages to be awkward yet endearing thanks to the brilliant casting of the leads. Halm, Astro, and Hartwig play best friends who find themselves in an adventure the night before they all go their separate ways. The easy flow of their dialogue and expressive faces made everything so believable. I only mourn their lack of character development in the movie. I’ll watch out for these up and coming actors.

The plot is as flat as they come- boys save alien from bad scientists and help him go home. The CGIs were minimal but good.  Echo is adorable. The alien spaceship assembly was amazing. I have conflicting feelings about the movie’s filming style ala Blair Witch project. On one hand, it is not comfortable to watch (motion sickness prone people, be warned). On the other, it had a hand on creating an organic feel to the story.

All in all, it is a good movie for kids and adolescents. Not so much for adults

Fave Character:

Munch (he delivered most of the laugh out loud moments)

Least Liked Character:

Emma (not sure why she was there)

Fave Quote: (NV)

Munch: My mom said I am a bit of an acquired taste. I think the kids at my new school won't acquire it.

Fave Scene:

First 20 minutes of the film