Luis and the Aliens

The actual plot is thin to the point of absurdity, much of it hinging on the aliens stumbling on an Earth infomercial and conceiving the desire to buy a certain kind of vibrating mat.

Tonally and narratively, Luis and the Aliens is a dog's dinner.

Parents will have to be end-of-holidays desperate to take their little darlings to this punishingly uninspired animation.

This really is all influences with nothing added.

Though peppy and bright enough that it might amuse some kids should it show up on a screen in front of them somewhere, it offers no reason for their adult guardians to actually take them someplace to watch it.

While the characters and situations may be a little too predictable and farcical for sustained enjoyable supervised viewing, there's an overall feeling of fun that emanates from the just-right running time.

It has the feel of a movie put together by a committee, determined to reach for mediocrity.

A cartoon in which charm and humour are missing.

Although the animation is light years away from the films of Pixar and DreamWorks, the slapstick is accomplished enough to keep younger children entertained.

It's passably animated but clumsily written, and not especially original.