Attack the Block

Filmmaker Joe Cornish's teens-vs.-aliens flick stars John Boyega as hero (or antihero) Moses, the brooding leader of a pack of London street toughs. After robbing pretty young nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker), they wind up killing a strange creature that landed in a space-pod, carrying off the remains as a trophy. But soon hordes of ships disgorge an army of ferocious beasts that surround the protagonists in their high-rise public-housing building. As the kids alternately run from and try to mount a counterattack against the aliens to defend their “block,” other residents become involved, as well as nerdy drug-buyer Brewis (Luke Treadaway), who offers an explanation for the invaders' actions that proves the key to their defeat. Cornish is reasonably adept at staging the frequent chases and brawls, but the budgetary limitations here are obvious, and Boyega makes a rather stiff, inexpressive lead, although Alex Esmail picks up the slack as his motor-mouth pal, Pest, and Treadaway handles the script's best lines with relish. A promising first effort, Attack the Block nevertheless lacks the inventiveness and panache that turned District 9 into a cult favorite and monster hit. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include three audio commentaries (the first is the “Junior Commentary” with writer-director Joe Cornish and costars John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Simon Howard, and Leeon Jones; the second is the “Senior Commentary” with Cornish and costars Jodie Whittaker, Luke Treadaway, and Nick Frost; and the third features Cornish and executive producer Edgar Wright), a “making-of” documentary (62 min.), the production segments “Creature Feature” (20 min.), “Unfilmed Action” (5 min.), “Meet the Gang” (4 min.), and “That's a Rap” (2 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an uneven film.] (F. Swietek)