Review of Home (2016) by Jillian S — 28 Nov 2015

Home has a lot to it, both positive and negative- a very strongly built plot, but poor character development. A plot that often shifts into various crisis filled points and a confusing opening to the overall story. Story matters in Home and it only has it half right.

Home has some pretty deep undertones for a kids film - war. While at times overshadowed by a theme of not judging others, the plot is the best Dreamworks has had since maybe the original Shrek. An outcast among an alien race that has invaded Earth and placed all humans in a completely different land, Oh is known as a fugitive when accidentally contacting the leader of a rival race, calling for immediate war and invasion. Oh escapes with a young teenager named Tip, who is searching for her mother in the alien invasion. Oh and Tip become friends and Oh learns about human culture, a slew of family fun and Oh's mischief ensues.

Home tends to be confused. It's almost like it was written by kids, who have a good idea going at first but twist and turn it all up into a confusing jumble. The story overall can be strong, but it's ruined by its adding on of plot points as it goes on. The characters, even the cutesy Oh, aren't well done and the chemistry between Parsons and Rihanna isn't great. Oh seems like a wackier Minions clone at times, and Rihanna's performance is not a strong one, adding on to the all too true claim that musicians shouldn't attempt to act. The theme of galactic war is admirable but it comes back to how it could have been a lot better if not ruined by plot point twists. Home is a mixed up mash of "but wait!" moments sleazily made to complete another 40 some minutes to fill in - even kids may find Home to be a bit too much.