Directed by: Andy Fickman

Starring: Dwayne (formerly "The Rock") Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino

Rated: PG (intense action, a few frightening sequences)

Running time: 98 minutes

Best suited for: families with children

Least suited for: families without children

First of all, this film is incomprehensibly unbelievable to the sophisticated sci-fi palate. It's 90 minutes of pseudo space alien baddies, "Trekkie" spoofery and deafening car crashes as we breathlessly "Race to Witch Mountain."

Most of it borrows plot or design or action sequences from dozens of other sci-fi films. The prepubescent aliens turned adorable blond-headed tykes (for the purposes of "blending in") are completely confounding as creatures who can at one moment blow things up at whim and then be totally dependent upon a surly Las Vegas cab driver who, for much of the flick, hasn't a clue what's going on.

Of course, your 6-year-old, your 8yearold and your 11year-old won't notice any of this . . . oh, but to review this fun, nonsensical, rambunctious popcorn-chomper through their eyes.

It's far better fare than Disney's previous (and utterly hokey in that kid-friendly way) "Escape to Witch Mountain" (1975).

For adults, there's enough harmless action to keep you entertained.

Dwayne Johnson (who's taking the "Kindergarten Cop" approach to his career—so far, so good) plays Jack Bruno, a Las Vegas cab driver who bumbles into two kids (AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig) on the run.

On the run and with a big wad of cash. They need to get to Witch Mountain, ASAP. Jack's a reformed getaway driver, an ex-con with (of course) a heart of gold.

So when a gaggle of black SUVs begins chasing them, Jack thinks it's his ex-boss out to settle an old score.

But it's not. It's the U.S. government (remember "Starman"? Remember "The Last Mimsy"? Remember—oh, never mind).

Anyway, in hot pursuit are U.S. government agents, who apparently have side jobs as alien taxidermists.

(If you wonder why we haven't seen any real aliens yet, they've probably been watching our movies and they're scared to death to touch down. Can't blame them.)

And that's the movie. The Feds and a giant robot after Jack the taxi guy, as they "Race to Witch Mountain."

Again, this is strictly kiddie fare (although the film's first five minutes are actually rather excellent, even for the hardened sci-fi-natic. But that's before we begin the "Race to Witch Mountain").

There are far worse flicks to sit through as the kids giggle with glee—so that's the price you pay.

And Johnson does a pretty good job here as a confused, hulking comedian in the making.

But who'll we team him up with for "Twins 2"?