Check it out – aliens with superior technology come to earth with no intention of enslavement, annihilation, assimilation or education. It’s kinda refreshing. No, the Boov (Boovs?) are the biggest cowards in the universe. They pride themselves on it. [As per American custom, I am required to insert a French joke here] And they’ve come to live on Earth to get away from it all, and by “it all,” I mean their big ugly enemy, the Gorg. You know, when you’re named “The Gorg,” you’re just gonna have enemies; was that the point?
A hippo-toothed, cylindrical stool being, the Boov speak English quite well, except they can has problem with subject-verb agree. These guys vacuumed up all the humans Seussian-style and relocated them in the Australian outback, so they can have the rest of the planet to themselves. They like the fact that it came pre-furnished. What’s the point in giving humanity the Trail of Tears routine if you’re just gonna have to call Ikea the next day? A particularly lonely Boov, Oh (voice of Jim Parsons), so named because of the groaning sound made at his appearance anywhere, has invited all to his house-warming rave. Unfortunately, he hit “reply-all,” on the instruction-laden e-vite, thus inviting the Gorg to Earth.
Why are the Gorg on the email list? I mean, c’mon, half-canister folks; do you put a mortal enemy on speed dial? I don’t think so. (Except, of course, that we did :P )
The email puts Oh on the Boov shit list and while expressing his personal fleedom, he meets the last remaining urban human Gratuity Tucci (Rihanna). Friends call her “Tip,” get it? Tip and Tip’s cat
(the Boov spared the pets from relocation, why?) are searching for Mrs. Tipsy Tucci, but as she and Oh are now on the run from the Boov police, hey, buddy road pic!
It’s a shame this didn’t get more political, there’s a great “Tip Oh kneel” joke to be had somewhere. Maybe if they’d stopped in a church next to the capital building … and maybe if the Boov had knees. Oh well.
Home makes for a pretty average animated comedy and pretty average buddy road pic. I suppose it’s bolstered by the occasional wondering-if-a-purring-cat-is-a-time-bomb stuff. I’m guessing the over/under on repeat child viewings before parents start ripping hair out is about eleven. Better than most. And there’s no cold here for somebody to sing about not being bothered by it.
Check out the universal movers
Never get stuck in a groovers
You need to flee?
Take it from me
You gotta Leave it to Boovers
Rated PG, 94 Minutes
D: Tim Johnson
W: Tom J. Astle & Matt Ember
Genre: Aliens are goofballs
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Animation fiends
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Xenophobes
