Normally, family movies of this nature are not my cup of tea, but I thought I would watch this particular one because Kelly Hu was in the cast. As it turned out, while this was some distance from the worst family movies I've seen, the movie does have some problems that hold it back from being a classic. First, the good stuff. The movie's production values look solid for what couldn't have been a low budget, from the cinematography to the special effects. Also, the various characters in the movie (both the kids and the adults) are a lot smarter and realistic than usual, and the performances by the game cast are also pretty good. All the same, there are some significant problems with the package. The main problem is that the movie's basic story has been done so many times before. The premise is old hat, the problems the protagonists have are extremely familiar, and the plot turns are very predictable. Also, the movie moves at a very slow pace, and lacks severe punch when it tries to be exciting or suspenseful. Adults may also be disappointed that Kelly Hu does not get to show off her martial arts skills. Kids will probably like the movie despite these problems, and while their parents may nitpick it more, they will probably admit that they've seen a lot worse.
