Review: 'Home' (2015)

DreamWorks

Preceding both Mr. Peabody and Sherman and Rio 2 during their respected theater runs last year was the animated short Almost Home featuring the voice talents of Steve Martin as Captain Smek, the leader of an alien race called Boovs that are in search for a new home planet. As I watched this short not once but twice, I realized that I was enjoying myself far more than anyone else in the theater. Of course it garnished a few giggles from the young audience but nothing like the roaring praise of laughter that I was giving it throughout. This short though was just the beginning, as it was an early promotional tool for a feature film by the name of Home.

So finally, one year after this short premiered, Home is here and although I never reached the level of laughter that I did with the short, I can easily say that I was satisfied with the experience nonetheless. One of DreamWorks broader appealing entries; Home is a thoroughly entertaining and a sincerely heartfelt animated film that gets better with each minute that is added to its running time.

Where is home for the Boov’s? A question they have been asking themselves as they have been running away from their enemy the Gorgs, looking for a safe planet to call ‘home’. They finally find that place in the form of Earth, so they quickly invade the planet, move all the humans to different parts of the world and take over their former homes. The Boov’s all appear to be a lot of a like besides Oh, voiced by Jim Parsons, taking on several of the characteristics of his Big Bang Theory character Sheldon Cooper, a naïve but creative and up beat Boov that has been somewhat out casted by the others due to his knack for making mistakes but mainly because he is different than everyone else.

Oh makes his biggest mistake yet though when he accidentally sends an invite to everyone, including the Gorgs, to a party he is throwing at his new place. Because of this, Captain Smek, reprised by Steve Martin but in more of a supporting part than a lead, along with several other Boovs are on the search for Oh, so he must go to a place on earth where they won’t find him. In the process he crosses paths with a young girl nicknamed Tip (voiced by Rihanna) that was not transferred away from her home and is now searching for her mother Lucy (voiced by Jennifer Lopez). So after Oh builds a hovering car that is fueled by slushy mix and featuring several other gas station novelties, the two embark on a journey to find Tips mother, get Oh out of trouble and prevent the Gorgs from destroying earth. 

One thing that DreamWorks animation has made clear is that the younger audience is their main concern. A DreamWorks release tends to be a goofy type of fun but in doing so becomes rather one note. Out of the gate, Home is not different as Oh, along with the rest of the Boov’s are introduced and as they invade earth, the younger audience should enjoy the antics of Oh and Captain Smek that take place during this time.

With this said though, there is some creativity that can be appreciated by everyone. As I mentioned in the plot description, using typical items you would find in a gas station, Oh makes a car mobile again by allowing it to hover above the ground. What fuels this invention? A slushy called Busta Lime. Sure, children won’t understand this but it did earn a chuckle or two from me. One thing that enhances Oh and the other Boovs is the way that a change in emotion causes their normal purple skin color to change. Red is anger, blue is shame, yellow is fear and green is deception. It’s not groundbreaking by any means but it seems to always enhance the moment, increasingly becoming more interesting as the film goes on.

It is when Oh and Tip team up that an older generation will start to find the most value in Home. One major reason that Home can connect with an older audience compared to most animated films is the add complexity to its story. Instead of an introduction, dilemma and then ending, there is a thought-out introduction to the characters, especially Oh, and then there are more than just one dilemma keeping Oh and Tip from accomplishing what they are set out to do. It is not often you see this happen in a movie such as this but because of this both Oh and Tip along with the story grows on the audience, to the point of being invested in what is going to happen next. It is in these dilemmas, that you will find a story about how emotions play a powerful role in who we are and how we face problems. As where a Boov runs from problems, a human takes them head on and are prompted to so by their feelings and emotions. The idea that mistakes make us who we are and are a part of life is also something that Oh learns.  As Oh realizes this and that being different is a good thing, the film reaches its highest points.  

When watching Home, I was the only one in the theater so it is hard to tell if it is capable of keeping the kids interested when it takes this more sentimental route. But with high tempo, pop style music and eye-catching images taking place up to the credits, a younger audience should still find a level of entertainment. Because of this, Home is DreamWorks best since How To Train Your Dragon.     

Grade: B+