Earth To Echo, Dave Green’s feature debut, is an admirable attempt to replicate the classic family adventures of the 80s. Instead, what’s delivered is an uneven mishaps that lacks heart, soul and, most importantly, originality. Forced to leave their neighbourhood, friends Tuck (Brian Bradley), Alex (Teo Halm) and Munch (Reece Hartwig) spend one last night together. It soon turns into a night of unbelievable discoveries when the trio follow static feeds sent to their mobile phones. Repackaging successful elements from E.T. and The Goonies, Earth To Echo could have worked, but is marred by a derivative script from Henry Gayden and a cast who share zero chemistry whatsoever. The work that’s done to elevate the film through some neat visual effects (Echo’s design is sleek and memorable) is wrecked by Green’s insistence on employing a ridiculous found footage style through the boys’ own recordings of their experiences that night. There’s simply nothing to Earth To Echo that makes it stand out. And, for a film that intended to entertain children and adults alike, that’s bad.
Empty Screens 