"Luis & the Aliens" is a new German animated movie from 2018 that runs for approximately 1.5 hours and was written and directed by Christoph and Wolfgang Lauenstein and if you have seen their Oscar-winning short film from almost three decades ago now, then this movie here is something you really would not expect in terms of style, maybe story too as it is really mostly aimed at younger audienced I'd say. but this should not be seen as a criticism. Not at all. There were quite a few fun moments here from start to finish. The protagonist here is not one of the aliens, but a little boy who struggles in all kinds of departments in life, for example in terms of how his widower dad struggles to find time for him because he is too busy looking for aliens. Or with (his lack of) friends. And with 2 or 3 other issues too. You will recognize them when you see them. of course the longer the film goes, the more these issues get solved. This is also the consequence of the actual aliens, while the plot keeps revolving around them, getting less and less of an impact the longer the story goes. At the end, even there are other aliens in the center of it all and a primary antagonist whose role and background really needs a long time to get clear and the way she turns into a scary monster eventually may be a bit over the top. Same for the ice vendor who turns out to be another alien, even if there are indicators throughout the film that made me think it could actually happen. But yeah, these creatures did not add too much for me. A huge rushed-in antagonist was not needed that much. The story has enough other plot points where it delivers and it could also have worked as a coming-of-age story for example without fighting evil. In any case, the three initial alien characters were definitely my favorites here. But my main criticism also comes with them because they really could have made more of them. Two of them are not too different, even if they are fun and the attempt to make this difference stayed an attempt really as one is depicted as full of doubts initially, also when it comes to going to Planet Earth at all, but he transforms quickly and just joins in with everything the others do. And as for the thirs, this one really offered huge potential without a doubt and they came a bit short there too as the scene with the girl at the supermarket is maybe the very best in terms of fun I'd say. I wish there could have been more like this. People of diversity will enjoy the Black background of the principal (another character that added virtually nothing, his hair-cutting scene is the best example how unfunny and pointless it was) and the Asian love interest to the main character. She was kinda cute though, even if nothing about her was as fun as the running gag about her mate constantly failing in filming the action and aliens. well, she was in it for the beauty, not the humor I guess. One question that kept coming up halfway into the film was really how the snob boy never realized how these parents and housekeeper never looked even close to what his real parents looked like, but it seemed he believed them to be real? No way. Still, these morphing parts were kinda fun. The cmotional component is also in this film, especially in terms of father-son relationship, but it's none that is really on an amazing level, but not bad either. Overall, one of the better 2018 animated films for sure and I give this one a thumbs-up. Especially a positive surprise looking at how disappointing German films from this genre have been at times in recent years. See it if you love animation and get a hand on this movie. Worth watching for sure. Oh yeah and make sure that you don't miss out on the most harmless Harry&Sally reference you will ever come across in terms of that third lady watching the two (especially Sally) and her reaction afterward.