Home is an enjoyable family movie. All the ingredients for DreamWorks magic are present: imagination, expert animation and plenty of comic charm.

While perhaps not as precise as the creators may have hoped (only touching upon the true meaning of ‘home’) there are some interesting questions posed along with the leaps of logic, occasional inconsistencies, and more problematic messages (e.g. it’s bad to run away from anything… ).

Overall, positivity and well-paced plot progression combine to make a pleasant, if occasionally shallow, bubblegum ride into eventual emotional payoff.

Regrettably, much of the journey is spent cringing at the conspicuously Rihanna-ridden soundtrack.

In this harmless film there are surfeit references and general excess, as the filmmakers prioritise temporary relevance over timelessness.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Matt Jones

DIRECTOR: Tim Johnson

WRITERS: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember

SYNOPSIS: Based on the book by Adam Rex, Home tells the story of misfit alien Oh, who, after an invasion of earth, finds himself on the run from his own people and forges an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl named Tip – who is on a quest of her own.

A preview screening of Home was kindly provided by ThinkJam.