ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN

The movie pales in comparison to today's more sophisticated fare, but it's not a bad trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with it.

Growing up in the '70s and '80s, I was of exactly the right era to enjoy Escape to Witch Mountain. It was the subject of an elaborate sixth grade book report, and by the time I watched the movie, I felt a certain ownership in the franchise. After all, I'd spent a fair amount of time drawing Tia and Tony levitating over a chain-link fence, and watching it unfold onscreen was strangely satisfying. Twenty years later, the movie is somewhat dated, but it still makes for wholesome family fun.

The saga begins with Tia (Kim Richardson) and Tony (Ike Eisenmann) living in an orphanage with their cat Winky. The two are able to communicate telepathically, move things with their minds, and glimpse into the future, but this never stops a particularly annoying bully from harassing them. Seriously, how dumb is that kid? How many times would you want to mess with a boy who obviously has super powers?

Though they are outsiders at the orphanage, things do not look up when Tia and Tony are adopted by a mysterious millionaire named Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland). They are taken to an elaborate estate and showered in toys, gifts, and ice cream, but something seems amiss. Tia has a bad feeling that Aristotle will never let them go, and so they plan an escape. Hilariously, Tia will get a vision and say to Tony, "I see a pack of dogs. They're chasing us! They're close!" And Tony will screw up his face in a thoughtful way and say, "Yeah! I see that too!" in such a way that it always seems made up. I'm not entirely convinced Tony can see the future at all, but that's just me.

The two children put their heads together, and using the map that's been in Tia's "Star Case" all along, they strike out for Witch Mountain. Bolt continues his pursuit, and indeed sets the dogs upon them, but Tia and Tony do have the good fortune to cross paths with Jason O'Day (Eddie Albert). He's a gruff, but kind-hearted fellow traveling by motor home, and though he's reluctant to get involved with the children, he winds up treating them as though they're his own. To this we all have to say a collective, "Awww!" because Eddie Albert is just about as charming as they come.

You can bet that things end happily for Tia and Tony and that that do find their way back to their people (and the mother ship!). Overall Escape to Witch Mountain is an enjoyable little journey, with the minor exception of some hokey special effects and the fact that Tony's powers seem to hinge on playing a rather grating harmonica. The movie pales in comparison to today's more sophisticated fare, but it's not a bad trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with it.

DVD NOTES

DVD extras include featurettes on "Making The Escape", "Disney Sci-Fi", and the special effects seen in the film. Also included is a conversation with director John Hough, a 1975 Disney studio album, and the random cartoon "Pluto's Dream House". Viewers have the option to watch with audio commentary and/or pop-up fun facts.