Earth To Echo review

A group of Californian kids set off on a quest to investigate why a mysterious map keeps popping up on their mobile phones, only to discover that the cause is a wee tiny alien who’s crash-landed in the desert. They soon make friends with the CGI critter, but naturally the government are a bit perturbed about the new arrival and start mercilessly hunting it down…

Earth To Echo ’s a sweet, well-meaning adventure with a good heart, but the plot’s so familiar you almost expect alien Echo to ask to “phone home” at any moment. The cast of unknowns (including teenage American X-Factor finalist Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley) are charismatic enough, though, and the glitzy FX are surprisingly impressive.