The summer is in full swing at the cinemas. Given that there are a ton of great films to see that are currently playing, the holiday weekend has officially begun today with the release of three new films. One of which, "
Earth to Echo", will bring in much of the family demographic and for most will not disappoint. The story follows three young friends Alex (
Teo Halm), Tuck (
Brian 'Astro' Bradley) and Munch (
Reese Hartwig) on an adventure, after receiving some cryptic messages, to help a stranded alien return home. The film utilizes the ever-famous raw-footage structure similar to "
Chronicle", which makes for a different take on a similar premise.
At its core, the movie is about friendship. As the three best friends cope with the fact that life, and other circumstances, is beginning to pull them apart, the notion of true friendship is truly tested as they embark on one last night out together. The plot isn't original. They find an alien and try to help it home, i.e. "
E.T.". But where "Earth to Echo" is able to succeed in separating itself from a previous similar idea, is the way it tells the central story. I'm an avid fan of the "raw-footage" or "found-footage" style of film-making. People today say it's old and overdone. I feel it's a unique form of storytelling, as different from conventional film-making as computer animated films are different from live-action. It's almost a more personal, introspective way of telling a story because the illusion of reality causes a different emotional connection to the piece. The use of this style allows the charm of the characters and the intensity of the situations they find themselves in to intensify. Giving credit where credit is due, the actors have to sell their performances if any film is going to succeed. In the case of this particular style, I'd say even more so. The kids in this movie are funny, real and relatable, making for an enjoyable experience.
Overall, "Earth to Echo" is a fun movie. It's a family movie, very much deserving of its PG rating. It definitely has the feel of "E.T.", with a bit of "
Goonies" and pinch of "
Super 8" mixed in. Those of you who have seen these films and loved them will ultimately like this one. Now, if you're thinking to yourself, "Why would I want to go see a movie that's just like three other movies?", I would exhort you to step away from that mindset and be open-minded. Though it may feel similar, "Earth to Echo" has enough original charm and character to hold its own. It's very much a mix of the old and new, in that the same ideas of adventure, mystery and friendship; the core ideas behind "E.T." and "Goonies", are kept in the moment with the boys' constant use of filming, texting, and all the social-media communications we use today. Though this iteration lacks the nostalgia of the older films, it's hard to fairly compare them when this film has enough "personality" (for lack of a better word) to stand alone.
If you're looking for a good movie to take the family to, "Earth to Echo" is a great choice. The kids will like the adorable alien Echo and parents will enjoy the fact that at least there's something wholesome the whole family can watch and enjoy together.
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