Dreamworks Animations returned to the big screen in 2015 with their 31st cinematic release, Home, and along for the intergalactic ride they had newcomer to the acting world, Rihanna (This Is The End), in hot seat of the starring role. If you look at the previous thirty movies, you’ll be hard pressed to find any that you wouldn’t happily watch again and from the look of the trailer below, Home was set to continue that trend with off-kilter family fun from the animation gurus at Dreamworks.
Release date
The US and UK release date for the movie was the 27th March 2015 in both the UK and US, which put it in a pretty perfect place to be in contention for next year’s Easter animated movie crown, which it sort of took with little competition. With the invasion of an alien race, space ships, hover-car rides and the complete levitation of the Eiffel Tower, it was also a sure fire bet for 3D movie action to bring the story, which is based on Adam Rex’s children’s book, The True Meaning of Smekday, to eye popping life.
For anyone that’s already seen the movie and wants to add it to their collection, it should be getting a release on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download release in late summer, but Dreamworks hasn’t announced anything definitive as of yet. We do know that it will also be available on Blu-ray 3D, so you’ll be able to recreate some of the effects that stood out so well on the big screen.
Storyline
The plot sees a teenage girl called Tip (Rihanna) accidentally making first contact with Oh, a banished member of an alien race called the Boov. As the two become friends, Tip discovers that there’s a whole interplanetary war coming their way as the leader of the Boov, Captain Smek, has selected Earth as their new home world. In the face of the relatively “friendly” invasion, and with other galactic threats in their wake, Tip and Oh must work together to help the people of Earth, and their Boovian invaders, find a better solution.
Cast
As well as Rihanna, the cast of Home (2015) also includes Jim Parsons, who you’ll probably recognise as Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, as Oh, the crazy little alien. Steve Martin (The Pleasure Of My Company) has also been cast as Captain Smek, and Jennifer Lopez take on the role of Tip’s mum, continuing the musical theme of the movie.
Rhianna follows in the footsteps of Lopez and Beyoncé, who have both starred in animated movies in the past, making the crossover from the music industry. Lopez previously starred as Z’s friend Azteca in DreamWorks Animations’ Antz, and Beyoncé played the Queen Of The Forest in Blue Sky’s Epic. It may not be Rhianna’s first taste of the movie business, having previously starred in This Is The End in 2013, as well as the questionable Battleship (2012) and Bring It On: All Or Nothing (2006), but this is her first lead role.
Production
Home (2015) has been directed by Tim Johnson, who directed Lopez previously in Antz. His work also includes directing Over The Edge and executive producing the brilliant How To Train Your Dragon. Animation legend, Chris Jenkins, is the co-producer of the film alongside Suzanne Buirgy, and you’ve only got to see the list of previous movies he’s worked on in one role or another to see the experience he brought to the movie – Rio, Surf’s Up, Pocahontas, The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty And The Beast, The Little Mermaid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Review
In terms of our first impressions, Dreamworks’ Home had got a lot going for it, but while the trailer looked fun it was still in the balance a little in terms of how well it would turn out when it’s release date rolled around in March 2015. However, it’s gone on to be a fun family movie, thanks to the abundance of animation experience behind it in the director and producer. The cast mix was pretty unconventional, but worked well enough, and the manic storyline and fairly impressive visuals carried it over the line. There were some similarities with Lilo & Stitch in all fairness, but then who doesn’t love an alien invasion cartoon adventure. Read out full Dreamworks Home review for more details.
 UK release date, trailer and movie details from the film section of Tuppence Magazine, including storyline and cast info for the Dreamworks film.){kind=link}