PopSyndicate.com

Used to be cartoon shows had years even decades to grow in the nostalgic hearts of fans before they turned into live-action movies. No longer, as Ben 10: Race Against Time proves. In the show, which only debuted in 2005, young Ben Tennyson found the Omnitrix, a device worn like a bracelet that allows him to turn into various heroic aliens, the forms of which he uses as super heroes to combat various threats.

The film, which is only moderately tied to the continuity of the series, has Ben returning to school life after a summer of honing his powers. He’s not well-liked and wishes everyone knew he was all of the super heroes they rave about. Unfortunately, a time-hopping villain named Eon has arrived in town seeking Ben, or rather, seeking the Omnitrix. As Ben, his sister Gwen and their Grandfather (Lee Majors) try to stop the evil-doer, Ben has to come to terms with keeping his secret identity secret.

Race Against Time is akin to the goofy sci-fi movies that the Disney Channel was making a few years back. It’s not terribly good, complete with some fair-to-atrocious acting and a plot that makes no sense. In fact, I get the distinct impression that if you don’t follow the show, you won’t have a clue about half of what’s going on. The one saving grace of the film is that the alien super hero forms Ben uses look pretty neat in live-action (well, CGI at least) form.

Special features are mostly aimed at the kids. The making-of featurettes are light-hearted. The most interesting thing to be learned from them (if you don’t pay attention to credits) is that the film was directed by Alex Winter. Yes, Bill from Bill and Ted now directs kids movies. Footage from the premiere and an episode of something called Fried Dynamite are included.

Ben 10: Race Against Time is completely aimed at kids, and more so, aimed at followers of the show. The rest of us pretty much will be lost the entire time, but at least there’s a few decent creatures in it to keep us ignorant ones entertained.

2