Opening 24 May 2018
Directed by:
Christoph Lauenstein, Wolfgang Lauenstein, Sean McCormack
Writing credits:
Wolfgang Lauenstein, Christoph Lauenstein, Joe Vitale, Jeffrey Hylton
Principal actors:
Franciska Friede, Joey Guila
Luis is 12 years old and attends Walnut Hill Middle School. Due to his unusual home life, he is bullied as an outsider and called “Luise.” All because his father, Armin Sonntag, considers himself an UFOlogist and spends full time in his chaotic, run-down house, looking through his telescope for intelligent life. He is so absorbed in watching for aliens that, not only does he miss Luis’ birthday, but he takes no notice of the aliens when they actually land in a flying saucer. Luis, of course, befriends the three: Mog, Nag, and Wabo, one blue, one yellow-green, and one blue-green. He doesn’t tell his father for fear he will put them into a shock frost-er. They move into the fancy house across the street, where only the Spanish cleaning lady, Valentina, seems to be around occasionally.
What a fun film! The animation is especially good with excellent presentations of all of the characters in wonderful colors. There is never a dull moment, until possibly the end, where all are a bit teary-eyed at the success of their endeavors to find the Nubbi Dubbi (called Navi Gavi in the German version) and to prevent Luis from being shipped off to a boarding school. (Becky Tan)