Alex (Tao Halm), Tuck (Brian "Astro" Bradley), and Munch (Reese Hartwig) are inseparable friends whose bonds are tested when the development of a freeway through their neighborhood threatens to split the boys up as their families move. During their last week, cell phones in the area go haywire, all stuck on the same amorphous image. After some googling, the boys discover the shape is a satellite image of the desert just outside of town. In the search for one last hurrah of adventure before the move, the boys ride their bikes at night into the desert, searching for the cause of the disturbances. What they find is an abandoned radio tower and a strange metal cylinder with an alien inside. They befriend the miniature being (resembles a baby owl robot), naming him Echo after the way he mimics any sound. Now it's up to the boys to help Echo find his spaceship and make his way back home.
"Earth to Echo" is best when focused on the boys' relationship. These actors take otherwise clumsy, underwritten characters and infuse them with life. Halm gives the stoic Alex quiet vulnerability, transparent as someone's words sting or warm his heart. Astro plays Tuck like a young Chris Rock: mischievous, vocal, yet unafraid to be a dork. Hartwig's Munch has goofy charm; for a token nerd, Hartwig shows restraint, staying silly without ever annoying. The background is filled with his antics, and made me chuckle throughout. They poke fun at each other, brainstorm, and sometimes fight, but never is their friendship questioned, remaining loyal like brothers.
If the movie only focused on the boys and how they deal with the pressures of moving apart, I'd be hooked. However, we still have an adventure to go on, and "Earth to Echo" tends to stay in after-school special territory, filling the story with stereotypes and cliches to pad it out. The secondary cast consists of ignorant parents, mean siblings, the misunderstood popular girl, the arrogant government official, etc. Where are the kids led in their journey? A pawn shop, a high school party, bars. These are all locations for kids to feel out-of-place, but the filmmakers seem to believe that just placing the kids in a bar can be intimidating without actually making the events or people so. In these sections, the story screeches to a halt and the movie goes on autopilot: there's not as much effort, not as much risk, and consequently, not enough to engage.
In its last third, the stakes are raised and the film begins to make do on the trailer's promises of action. (Echo's deconstruction of an eighteen-wheeler made my entire row go "Whoa."). As Echo shows off its powers and the kids get closer to the end, all the sci-fi grandeur blends with the emotional punch and brings to the whole thing to a heartwarming, exciting climax. Halm is at his best here: an underground scene with Echo reveals the skill of his expression. His face runs the gamut of emotion in a manner that's calculated, but works flawlessly. The ending, while bittersweet, shows maturity in a way other movies would abandon for an easy ending. This teaches kids how to handle with the realities of life, and the film's better for it.
"Earth to Echo" is a mixed bag: while the acting, atmosphere, and theme are top-notch, the cliches and clumsy script keep it from reaching its potential. Dismissing this as an "E.T." ripoff devalues its strengths, which are worth the price of admission. Go in, bring a bucket of popcorn, and enjoy a charming, intelligent ride. Thank you for reading; I'm the Man without a Plan, signing off.
"Earth To Echo" trailer:
Nice review. It captured the feeling I had also.
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