大象传媒

The 'superheroes with everyday issues' schtick from The Incredibles is looking pretty worn out in Zoom, a copycat kids' flick that raises smiles but no laughs. Tim Allen leads as Captain Zoom, a washed up, paunchy fiftysomething who grudgingly agrees to train a new generation of superheroes at a government facility in the desert. The lessons about 'family' and 'teamwork' he learns from his four fresh-faced charges are all laudable, but will only convince the most undemanding of young viewers.

The four kids are impressive: a telekinetic girl, an invisible boy, a chubby kid who can balloon parts of his body to enormous proportions and a lisping six-year old girl with super-strength. But they don't have much to work with. Zoom's gross-out gags are all variations on gooey substances (canteen food, snot etc) being thrown over unsuspecting bystanders. Courtney Cox plays queen of pratfalls while Chevy Chase is a tired shadow of his former self. And who on earth dug up Smash Mouth? Their gratingly perky songs cover at least half of the mercifully brief running time?

"GROSSLY UNORIGINAL"

Zoom's ultimate flaw, however, is gross unoriginality. The 'superhero academy' is straight outta Sky High, the theme of young superhero insecurity from X-Men. By the time the kids finally take their powers into combat, in a distinctly underwhelming effects-laden finale, interest has waned. And that's not to mention the dubious product placement for junk food. Zoom's come off Hollywood's assembly line in better shape than Grounded or Santa Clause 3 (Allen's other recent turkey), but it's only worth taking the kids to if your local's not showing Eragon.