DVD: Aliens in the Attic (PG)

The Pearsons' holiday to an old lake house retreat is disrupted as an advance party of aliens planning to invade earth crash land into their attic.

It is up to the teenager Tom and his cousin, Jake, to take on the hostile foot-tall critters, outwit his sister's boorish jock boyfriend Ricky and, above all, make sure their parents don't find out. The Home Alone-style plot works well as it is left to the children to set traps, construct rudimentary weapons and prevent the aliens from calling in reinforcements. The ETs are well rendered and the kids, including High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale, all acquit themselves well. It is good fun, and will have the kids entertained, but proves a bit flimsy if you're hoping for anything more.