Star Kid

At first glance, Star Kid seems like a cheesy E.T. rip off, with a 12-year-old kid befriending an alien...but it's not. Whether it's the school bully kicking his butt, his teen-age sister who calls him "the fungus," or the girl he likes but doesn't have the guts to talk to, Spencer Griffith (Joseph Mazzello, Jurassic Park), has a lot to worry about. But things change when Spencer meets Cy, a powerful, 7-foot alien cyberwarrior, who was sent to Earth by the Trelkins to combat the evil aliens known as the Broodwarriors. Naturally, working together the pair save the planet from hostile takeover while Spencer begins to face his fears. A definite feel-good-movie, appealing mostly to pre-teen boys, Star Kid offers action-packed adventure, good animatronics, and a large dose of humor and family fun. Recommended. (M. K. Lau)