DVD review: Attach the block

Aliens vs hoodies.

Joining the ever increasing ranks of crossover fiction “Attack the block” is, for a change, a decent movie.

The plot is well structured but, most of all, the writer director Joe Cornish understood that a movie like this is supposed to be fun. So we have none of the insufferable seriousness of vikings vs aliens, or whatever was its name, neither the high budget vacuity of Cowboys vs Aliens. The world of the boys is most of all a fun world.

Of course there is the big stumbling block of the protagonists. Everybody hates the hoodies and their ilk, expect hoodies themselves of course. Cornish tries to make them relatable showing their difficult houses but while I can be sold on the idea that in an alien invasion they would protect their block fiercely I still can’t relate to them.

Joe Cornish of course knew also that and so he gave us a more civil character to get behind, nurse Sam , played by the ubiquitous Jodie Whittaker with the right mixture of determination and vulnerability.

The Alien are very original. Entirely played by stuntmen on screen to give the kids something to relate (consider that most of the kids are real kids from the block at their first acting experience).

The drama is handled in a competent manner. Not really gripping stuff but engaging enough that he can keep the viewer entertained and interested on what’s going on in the screen.

A modern B movie, recommended to the people who hearing the idea think “interesting!” but with not a lot to offer for everybody else.