If you’ve seen the trailer for this Eddie Murphy sci-fi comedy, know that at least it isn’t nearly as dreadful as it looks. That’s not saying a lot, but it is highlight of this film about tiny people from space who come to Earth searching for a way to save their own planet, in a spaceship shaped like Eddie Murphy.

The humor comes from the little guys trying to maneuver their spaceship so that it talks and acts like a human. There are also a few entertaining moments when the aliens finally allow themselves human emotions, and the lovely Gabriel Union, who plays Murphy's potential love interest, is always a pleasure to watch.

Kids in the audience might grow a bit weary once they realize there are tired moral and social messages involved, but at least they’re not harmful in any way. If you’ve already seen the better children’s films that are out now, like Kung Fu Panda, WALL-E and Kitt Kittredge, An American Girl, this film won’t be too horribly painful.

Rated PG.

--LJM.