Earth to Echo Review

Earth to Echo 

In Relativity’s PG summer family adventure movie, Tuck, Munch and Alex are a trio of inseparable friends whose lives are about to change. Their neighborhood is being destroyed by a highway construction project that is forcing their families to move away. But just two days before they must part ways, the boys begin receiving a strange series of signals on their phones. Convinced something bigger is going on, they team up with another school friend, Emma, and set out to look for the source of their phone signals. What they discover is something beyond their wildest imaginations: a small alien who has become stranded on Earth. In need of their help, the four friends come together to protect the alien and help him find his way home. This journey, full of wonder and adventure, is their story, and their secret.

Our family was fortunate to attend an advance screening of Earth to Echo last night, and we all thought it was a cute family film.

After finding their phones have "thrown up" to reveal a mysterious map, Tuck, Munch, and Alex go on an adventure to find out where the map leads.

They eventually find Echo, and classmate Emma soon joins the boys' journey to help Echo.

Very reminiscent of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the movie shows not only how the boys discover Echo, but also their efforts in helping Echo get home, as well as how there are other people looking for Echo and want to prevent its return home.

However, this movie is quite different in the sense that it focuses less on Echo, and more on the relationships amongst the friends.

Although I do wish Echo had more of a starring role (Echo is just so cute!), I enjoyed how the movie focused on the friendships and revealed how each individual kid was special in his or her own way.

There were a lot of laughs throughout the movie, and there weren't any scary parts - although there were a few parts that were startling, but funny.

My kids seemed to really enjoy the film, as they watched intently as the friends followed various maps to surprising locations in order to help Echo get home.

My oldest loved whenever the kids rode their bikes - because of Tuck "filming" the adventure, it was as if we were riding along with the kids!

Speaking of "filming," - most of the movie is filmed and told from Tuck's point of view, as he uses various cameras (e.g. a bike cam, a spyglass cam).  The inevitable unsteadiness in the footage is obvious from the start, so those who are prone to motion sickness may find the movie a little hard to watch.

Overall, Earth to Echo was a very family-friendly movie - lots of adventure, humor, and fun!

Earth to Echo is now in theaters! You can view the trailer below:

Thank you to the sponsor for hosting admission for our family.