Aliens in the Attic (2009) - Movie Review for Parents

Bottom line: Children will likely enjoy Aliens in the Attic, a live-action film aimed directly at kids from the silly physical humor to the "kids save the day" plot. The movie contains unrealistic, kid vs. alien violence and slap-stick humor throughout. Some mild or offensive language and jokes containing innuendo are used.

Aliens in the Attic Movie Trailer

Aliens in the Attic - Summary

The Pearson family is much like any other normal American clan. Big sister Bethany is boy crazy, Tom is way smart (but would rather be cool), and little sister Hannah is just plain adorable. When mom and dad Pearson decide it's time for a little family togetherness, the Pearsons head up to a vacation rental house, and a variety of personalities collide when they meet up with Nana, Uncle Nate, his son Jake, and identical twin boys art and lee. Things get even more "lame," according to Tom, when Bethany's boyfriend Ricky shows up on the scene.

Then the unexpected guests arrive. A trip up to the roof leads Tom and Jake to find that the meteor shower has been a cover for the arrival of a few "knee-high" alien invaders -- the Zirkonians. The aliens use mysterious mechanisms to control human minds, but because their gadgets only work on adults, the kids are able to get away, leaving the aliens holed up in the attic making their diabolical plans. Ricky, unfortunately, isn't so lucky. As control of his person passes back and forth between the aliens and the Pearson kids, he is consigned to act the fool that he is.

Tom's brain power comes in handy and he and Jake become the natural leaders in the Pearson kids' attempt to fight off the aliens and keep their parents from becoming controlled zombies used to fight against them. If the aliens are allowed to accomplish their mission on earth, an alien invasion is sure to follow. The future of earth as we know it is at stake, and the Pearsons are the only ones who can save it.

Aliens in the Attic - Guide Review for Parents

Aliens in the Attic represents the classic "kids save the day" plot line, but at least the parents aren't portrayed as complete idiots in this one. Additionally, the character Tom, who has been trying to hide is intelligent light under a bushel in order to appear cool, learns a lesson about the value of being smart. Parents may also appreciate Bethany (played by Ashley Tisdale), who declines her boyfriends attempts to kiss her and tells him she doesn't want to move too fast. Kids will likely enjoy the movie and get a good laugh out of the silly physical humor and the hapless aliens, and although the film is silly and unrealistic, it isn't too painful for parents to sit through either.

The movie does contain a lot of kid vs. innept alien action violence, including the use of weapons like paint ball guns, Mentos bombs, and those that the kids make out of household objects. Also, adults and children use fireworks which are considered illegal in the area where they are vacationing. Some language is used in the movie, including the phrase "Oh my God" and variants of the phrase, and some rude and/or suggestive humor is used. For more detailed information on specific content in the movie, please see the "Content Overview" below.

Aliens in the Attic - Content Overview

• Violence (Medium): The movie contains violence throughout; however, it is kid vs. alien bloodless violence, most of which is played for laughs. The aliens threaten the kids with "instantaneous death," but they use weapons like a grenade that causes an anti-gravity effect. They try to shoot the kids with their mind control weapon, but it only works on adults. The kids fight back using weapons like crowbars, rakes, fireworks, and paint ball guns. One kid is tied up and dragged around by the aliens. The two adults who are under mind control get several bad bumps and bruises while the kids and aliens play with them as if they are playing a video game and from a fight they have against each other. Property damage also occurs throughout the movie. Many of the fights and/or physical comedy scenes portray males getting kicked or otherwise hurt in the crotch.
• Disrespectful/Imitative Behavior (High): Kids and adults in the movie do some objectionable things such as: we see Bethany sneaking back in after being out with her boyfriend, Tom hacks into the school and changes his grades, and Ricky repeatedly lies to and manipulates others, including saying that he is only 18 when he is in fact older. Ricky refers to a girl as "smokin' hot" and tries to get Bethany to kiss him. Characters in the movie use fireworks they know are illegal and the kids use a number of homemade weapons on the aliens. The kids make "Mentos bombs," but the movie does not specifically show how (although they are pretty easy if kids decided to try it.)

• Sex/Nudity (Medium): Ricky wants to kiss Bethany, and he makes a few mildly crude jokes and body movements. The aliens watch two characters kiss on a movie. Bethany wears a tiny bikini and rubs lotion on Ricky's shirtless back and chest.
• Drugs and Alcohol (Low): Adults in the movie are briefly shown with beverages that look to be beer.
• Language (Medium): The phrase "Oh my God" and variants of the phrase are used. Other rude words such as "idiot," "crap," and "this sucks" are used.
• Scary Scenes (Medium): Content listed under "violence" may be frightening for kids. Kids may also be frightened by the aliens, especially when the kids first encounter them or at the end when it looks as though the aliens my win. Children may also be afraid for some of the characters in the movie during moments of peril. Much of the peril, though, is lightened by comedy.
• Sad/Unsettling Scenes (Low): Tom and his father are at odds due to Tom's falling grades and sour attitude. Tom says some things that hurt his father's feelings. The topic of divorce is also brought up in the film when Jake says that he uses his father's guilt over the divorce to get him to buy stuff.

Aliens in the Attic – Topics to Discuss

• After seeing Aliens in the Attic, kids may have questions about the following topics: aliens, fireworks, calling 911, police, space ships, paint ball guns, divorce, computer hacking, boy-girl relationships.