A colourful animated sci-fi adventure, Home introduces us to a purple alien race called the Boov. They are on the run from their enemy the Gorg, and see Earth as a useful hiding place – even if it means invading and capturing all the humans (don’t worry, they’re not killed – just relocated to Australia). Unfortunately, a clumsy Boov known as ‘Oh’ (Parsons) has accidentally emailed the whole galaxy, revealing their location, so he’s on the run from his own people when he bumps into human girl Tip (Rihanna), who is searching for her mother.
Yep, it’s odd couple time again as Oh and Tip grudgingly team up – with Tip’s adorable cat – and set off together in Tip’s mum’s car (helpfully modified by Oh so that it flies and runs on slushie drinks) – Tip to find her mum and Oh to hopefully stop the email from reaching the Gorg without being caught by his fellow, understandably annoyed, Boovs.
While the story isn’t too original (there are similarities with movies such as Lilo & Stitch, Shrek and Escape From Planet Earth), and there are some plot wobbles (how come the Boov don’t understand what a toilet is, yet can use email?) there are also some really cute touches here, from Parsons’ characterisation of Oh (who, like his fellow aliens, talks in Yoda-like fashion) to the bright and bold action and sweet moments when Tip is looking for her mother.
Loosely based on the book The True Meaning Of Smekday, this is a cute family film that may not quite have the sharp humour of The Lego Movie or Toy Story, but definitely does have its sweet heart in just the right place.
Is Home suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
Very young children (under 5 years old) may find the Gorg scary when they first see their ship, and may be upset by the idea of Tip being separated from her mother.
If you like this, why not try: Big Hero 6, Megamind, Cats And Dogs, Escape From Planet Earth, Monsters Vs Aliens,