This wonderful film evokes memories of both 1982's "ET" and 2009's "District 9," as it centers around a stranded alien. It made me think of "Stand By Me" from 1986 because of the boys' friendship. But it had to be made in 2011 in order to create such a spectacular train wreck, which could only be done with today's Computer Generated Imaging!
Let's talk about the cast:
- Joel Courtney, in his film debut, brings us a motherless boy whose father is also in mourning. Our young hero is making a goofy vampire movie with his chums when they witness a spectacular train wreck. It would be hard to imagine anyone better suited for this role.
- Riley Griffiths, in another debut performance, is the self-appointed writer/director. This Bellevue-based kid had to gain weight for the role, but is convincingly bossy and opinionated. His chaotic family life provides the comic relief.
- Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights") is our hero's widowed father, a deputy sheriff who is suspicious about that mysterious train wreck but told to mind his own business, which seems to be keeping his lively boy out of Trouble.
- Elle Fanning ("Somewhere") is Trouble: with a possessive red- neck father and a previously undiscovered knack for acting, she is a natural to star in the boys' film; plus she's old enough to drive!
- Noah Emmerich ("White Collar") is the military guy trying to keep the train's cargo under wraps.
This is a good movie!
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