Escape From Planet Earth (6/4/2013)

Rated PG for action and some mild rude humor.

Starring The voices of Brendan Fraser, Rob Corddry, Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, William Shatner, Sofía Vergara, Craig Robinson and Ricky Gervais

Directed by Callan Brunker

Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” There’s also nothing new in Escape from Planet Earth.

The animated family comedy catapults moviegoers to planet Baab where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a national hero to the blue alien population. A master of daring rescues, Scorch pulls off astonishing feats with the quiet aid of his nerdy, by-the-rules brother, Gary (Rob Corddry), head of mission control at BASA. When BASA’s no-nonsense chief Lena (Jessica Alba) informs the brothers of an SOS from a notoriously dangerous planet, Scorch rejects Gary’s warnings and bounds off for yet another exciting mission. But when Scorch finds himself caught in a fiendish trap set by the evil Shanker (William Shatner) it’s up to scrawny, risk-adverse Gary to do the real rescuing. As the interplanetary stakes rise to new heights, Gary is left to save his brother, his planet, his beloved wife Kira (Sarah Jessica Parker) and their adventure hungry son Kip.

There are plenty of animated feature films that I as a parent thoroughly enjoy watching with my kids…some over and over. Then there are those that are a little more difficult to get through. Escape from Planet Earth is a little more difficult. The story and conflict between brothers is as old as time itself and most of the jokes are not new or even fresh takes on old classics.

The animation is very bright and colorful, but basic at best. In fact there’s one scene where we see a highway with cars cruising along and it looked like the animators just phoned it in. The cars are just colored boxes moving past the screen.

I will say that the highlight of the film was the voice cast. Maybe I’m crazy, but any time you get William Shatner poking fun at himself and others in a space related story… that’s just gold.

Honestly the biggest reason for the “rental” score is because it is clean with some great positive messages. I think your kids will enjoy it and for that, it’s worth the rental.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This is a typical PG animated film with a few mild rude jokes and that’s all you really need to be worried about.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. At the beginning of the film how would you describe Scorch and Gary’s relationship?


2. How does Scorch view Gary? How does Gary view Scorch?


3. How are Scorch and Gary different?


4. READ 1 Corinthians 12:12-25
   
   The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

   Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

   But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

   In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.

   
   How did scorch and Gary use their differences to work together?


5. In what ways are you and your friends different?


6. What are some ways this week you can live in harmony with those who are different to accomplish something for God?