Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

Race to Witch Mountain starts off with an interesting setup, but the plot doesn’t go much further than a straightforward chase. It feels like a movie made for a younger audience, with a lot of running, action, and not much depth. The directing is decent, keeping the pace fast, but it doesn’t leave much room for character development. The cinematography is serviceable, nothing too creative, though some action scenes are well-framed. The alien soldier design tries to be intimidating, but it comes off as inconsistent, one moment he’s unstoppable, the next he’s getting tossed around. Dwayne Johnson does what he always does, playing the tough guy with either a serious or comedic expression and not much in between. AnnaSophia Robb stands out as the only character with real presence, but it’s a shame she didn’t get bigger roles after this. The script is predictable, filled with generic dialogue that doesn’t add much personality to the characters. The score does its job, keeping up the energy, but nothing stands out as memorable. The dog, surprisingly, ends up being one of the best parts of the movie. Overall, it’s watchable if you go in expecting a simple, fast-paced adventure, but it’s not something that sticks with you.