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Movies / Upcoming / Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain

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Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

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43 %
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Reviews Counted: 131

Fresh: 56

Rotten:75

Average Rating: 5.1/10

Consensus: Despite the best efforts of a talented cast, Race to Witch Mountain is a tepid reboot that lacks the magic of the original.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements.

Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Mar 13, 2009 Wide

Box Office: $67,128,202

Synopsis: Former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson (aka "The Rock") makes family-friendly fare with director Andy Fickman’s (THE GAME PLAN) sci-fi adventure, RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN. Johnson plays Jack... Former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson (aka "The Rock") makes family-friendly fare with director Andy Fickman’s (THE GAME PLAN) sci-fi adventure, RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN. Johnson plays Jack Bruno, a surly former felon who is trying to stay out of trouble by driving a cab in Las Vegas and who embarks upon the adventure of a lifetime when two teens appear in his taxi and need a ride to (seemingly) the middle of nowhere. He quickly realizes that the mysterious siblings, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), are far from average--especially when they are pursued by a villain wearing a high-tech suit of armor. With the help of Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino), the trio travels to Witch Mountain, a secret government outpost in the Nevada desert, with the hopes of evading their pursuers and sending Sara and Seth home--and saving Earth in the process. This latest installment in the Witch Mountain series comes more than 30 years after the release of the first two films, ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN and RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN. Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, who played siblings Tia and Tony in the original films, appear in small but pivotal roles as a waitress and a sheriff. Johnson makes Bruno likable, even though the character barely likes himself. Robb and Ludwig are well cast as the earnest siblings who hold the fate of the world in their hands. Chase scenes abound and special effects that highlight the teens’ special powers are prevalent, but the film remains kid-friendly. Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall make brief cameo appearances. [More]

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall

Director: Andy Fickman

Director: Andy Fickman
Screenwriter: Andy Fickman, Mark Bomback, Matt Lopez
Producer: Andrew Gunn
Composer: Trevor Rabin
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Aug 4, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - Spanish
  • Subtitles - French
  • Subtitles - Spanish
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Race to Witch Mountain

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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There are no sustained characters of any kind, despite some capable acting talent. There is no believable relationship between the characters. There is no attempt to develop any of the political issues the film touches upon.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
06/04/09
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
05/13/09
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

In 35 years, people probably will have forgotten 'Race to Witch Mountain' the way my generation has amnesia when it comes to its 1975 predecessor 'Escape to Witch Mountain.'

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
05/01/09
Dan Lybarger
eFilmCritic.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix

This kids’ adventure from Disney is amiable with nice performances.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
04/17/09
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)

The result is a disappointingly unadventurous adventure, with characters and events that never involve us.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
04/17/09
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

There are decent special effects, and Johnson can play it tough while also being a kid-friendly presence.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
04/17/09
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

Cue a not very dazzling chase movie.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
04/17/09
Anthony Quinn
Independent

Family audiences in search of Easter entertainment will not feel disappointed by what is basically one long chase and the film will make a great theme-park ride.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
04/17/09
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

This surely has to be the last of the series.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
04/17/09
This is London

The pre-Star Wars Disney sci-fi adventure Escape to Witch Mountain gets a 21st-century reboot here, with beefed-up action, hyperactive editing and even a few shout-outs to George Lucas's blockbuster classic thrown into the mix.

Full Review Source: Scotsman | comment Comment
04/17/09
Alistair Harkness
Scotsman

In the long run, one would be advised to walk slowly and sluggishly, not race hurriedly, to the so-called new and improved findings at weak-kneed Witch Mountain.

Full Review Source: Movie Eye | comment Comment
04/16/09
Frank Ochieng
Movie Eye

This is a great idea that doesn't reach the heights it should.

Full Review Source: MovieTime, ABC Radio National | comment Comment
04/10/09
Jason Di Rosso
MovieTime, ABC Radio National

Once the action gets going, it's easy to forget that the plot has left for the planet La-La and just enjoy the fun.

Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
04/10/09
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film

An unexpectedly entertaining mixture of good, clean Disney fun with some rather more modern action scenes, lent charm by Johnson’s natural swagger. One of the better family films in a while.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/09/09
Chris Hewitt (UK)
Empire Magazine

It’s pacy all right, but glib and uninvolving for grown-ups, though perhaps furnished with enough in the way of spaceships, lasers and digital explosions to pacify undemanding little ’uns of an afternoon.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
04/09/09
Trevor Johnston
Time Out

It’s a rattling good chase movie. The young aliens have useful tricks. Johnson is the contractual comic liability. Perfect holiday nonsense.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
04/09/09
James Christopher
Times [UK]

Witch Mountain is a full-throttle adventure that features at least half a dozen cracking action sequences, some adult-pleasing comic one-liners.

Full Review Source: Digital Spy | comment Comment
04/09/09
Alex Fletcher
Digital Spy

Race To Witch Mountain promises sci-fi but ultimately delivers lo-fi. Its themes are predictable and its look generic: this is one Race you may want to sit out.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
04/09/09
Tony Horkins
Total Film

One minute Seth is solid enough to stop a speeding 4x4, next he's panicking over an approaching UFO. Such cheating robs the film of tension: we need to know limits to start caring.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
04/09/09
Victor Olliver
Teletext
 
 
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Latest News for Race to Witch Mountain

March 24, 2009: Fickman Answers Paramount's Call Opens in new window
Andy Fickman's dance card continues to fill up: the "Race to Witch Mountain" director just signed on to helm Paramount's adaptation of Sarah Mylnowski's young adult novel "Gimme... More...

March 16, 2009: Fickman Heads Up Monster Attack Network Opens in new window
"The Game Plan" and "Race to Witch Mountain" director Andy Fickman will continue his family-friendly streak for Disney, where he's just been signed to helm an adaptation of the... More...

March 15, 2009: Box Office Guru Wrapup: Witch Mountain Races to the Top
This weekend Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the North American box office with his Disney adventure film Race to Witch... More...

March 12, 2009: Critics Consensus: Race to Witch Mountain Doesn't Cast A Spell
This week at the movies, we've got a supernatural quest (Race to Witch Mountain, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb), a vengeance thriller (Last House on... More...

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