Let's face it: Former WWE wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not going to win an Academy Award for his acting anytime soon.
But he does have the required physicality to pull off the action-film roles he's usually offered, as well as a goofy charm that helps him pull off the more comedic ones that come along.
Johnson uses both those skill sets in "Race to Witch Mountain," a remake/reimagining of the 1970s Disney hits.
And while this film may not qualify as classic science-fiction and takes some liberties with author Alexander Key's material, at least it's fun.
It's certainly miles better than last year's dour remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still."
Johnson stars as Jack Bruno, an ex-con who's working as a taxi driver in Las Vegas. He's trying to stay out of trouble, but it seems to follow Jack everywhere he goes.
For example, a couple of teens — blond-haired, blue-eyed Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sarah (AnnaSophia Robb) — have hopped into his cab and have asked him to drive them to a mysterious location.
Normally, he'd say no. But when the two thrust a huge wad of cash at him, Jack agrees.
And then he immediately begins to regret that decision. It turns out Seth and Sarah are extraterrestrials, and they're being pursued by Men in Black, led by Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds).
Again, this is no "Close Encounters" or "E.T.," though it borrows from both of those films, as well as the "Predator" movies. (There's an alien hunter after the teens as well.)
But Johnson sells us on this silliness, with those aforementioned physical skills and his amusingly exasperated performance.
The two teens are good as well, though you sort of wish filmmaker Andy Fickman ("The Game Plan") would have given Carla Gugino, who plays a disgraced astrophysicist, a little more to do.
Also, fans of the original films should take notice of in-jokes and references that are sprinkled throughout.
(Both Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann — who played the imperiled alien children in the original films — can be seen in brief supporting roles.)
"Race to Witch Mountain" is rated PG and features some strong scenes of violent action (gunplay and shootings, vehicular and explosive mayhem, and teen-in-peril moments), brief drug content and references (tranquilizers and anesthetics) and some derogatory language and slurs. Running time: 98 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com