Aliens in the Attic *1/2 (out of four stars)

Directed by John Schultz, starring Carter Jenkins, Ashley Tisdale, Austin Butler, Kevin Nealon, Doris Roberts. Rated

PG

(action violence, suggestive language). Playing at: area theaters.

Discarded Fox ideas for an ad campaign for the kiddie feature Aliens in the Attic:

"Aliens in the Attic: At least it's not I Love You Beth Cooper!"

"Aliens in the Attic: Cheaper than G-Force 3-D!"

"Aliens in the Attic: See it or we'll make a Chipmunks sequel!" (Actually, they have.)

A children's movie mix of live-action and animation, Aliens - which was not previewed for critics - has a few positive messages, a few laughs and a few comic throwdowns, one involving Doris Roberts of Everybody Loves Raymond going all Crouching Tiger on an alien-controlled frat boy.

Hilarious? No. But will you hate your kids for begging to see it? Nooooo.

An extended family gathers in a big Victorian rental home in the country where four diminutive aliens (animated) have landed in the attic at the vanguard of a Zirconian invasion force. The adults are out of the loop.

It's up to the kids - who can resist the alien mind-and-body-control ray that turns select adults into zombie puppets - to save the Earth.

Stupid movie, right? But kid-friendly, as the children work out weapons to fight with, ways to fend off the beasties, and funny things they can do with the adults who no longer control their actions.

- Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel