Review
by George Vernadakis -- Multichannel News, 11/16/2009 2:00:00 AM
Ben 10: Alien Swarm
(Cartoon Network, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m.)
Cartoon Network is hoping for another happy holiday this month, courtesy of cartoon-turned-live-action-hero Ben Tennyson. Spun off from the animated series Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Alien Swarm arrives two years after the first franchise-based film, Ben 10: Race Against Time. The earlier pic became the then-most-watched telecast in the network’s history when it bowed over the Thanksgiving weekend in 2007, and Cartoon can rest-assured that this follow-up effort will be no ratings turkey.
Ben (Ryan Kelley) may be older but little else has changed as he helps the interplanetary police known as the Plumbers save earth from alien threats. Besides his handy Omnitrix, which transforms him into creatures such as the dinosaur-man Humongousaur, Ben has the alien-fighting help of his cousin Gwen (Galadriel Stineman), rival-turned-ally Kevin (Nathan Keyes) and Grandpa Max (Barry Corbin, who looks creepy even before his body’s taken over by enemy aliens).
The plot centers around Ben’s decision to break with the Plumbers in order to help Elena (Alyssa Diaz), a mysterious gal pal from his past, find her father. The storyline borrows freely from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Men In Black, and the sight of a teen superhero tackling a Dr. Octopus-like villain conjures up memories of Spider-Man.
Race Against Time director Alex Winter is at the helm again, but the latest Ben 10 outing’s production values far outshine its cheesier predecessor, with several respectable action set pieces. This Ben may not be a perfect 10, but it won’t disappoint franchise fans.
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