(c) Disney

Added in to the mix is a brainy ufologist-slash-love interest for The Rock (played winningly by Spy Kids� Carla Gugino, who also co-stars in the aforementioned Watchmen) and plenty of well-placed winks to the 1975 Escape. Yes, a Winnebago figures into the plot; yes, the original Tony and Tia � Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards � have pivotal roles as a sheriff named Anthony and a waitress named Tina. Plus, there�s even a cameo by real life �alien abductee� Whitley Strieber, not to mention Meredith Salenger showing up as Natty Gann (of The Journey of �fame). Missing is the whole �Uncle Ben�/lost at sea� back story, as well the harmonica-led dancing marionettes and Winkie the black cat, although there is a junkyard dog � named Junkyard. And you know that if the late Eddie Albert was still with us, he would have played the crucial role of paranoid conspiracy theorist Dr. Donald Harlan; instead, we get Garry Marshall, only half as annoying as usual (which is still twice as annoying as most people).

Holding the whole enterprise together is the charming, manly presence of Johnson, who is proving to be one of the most likeable screen presences in recent film. Along with such recent family friendly flicks as Get Smart and The Game Plan (as well as the upcoming Tooth Fairy wherein he will play, yes, the Tooth Fairy), the former pro wrestler is wisely building a fan base outside of the ring that should carry him in to the next stage of his onscreen career.

With its franchise-ready finale, Race to Witch Mountain is a perfect set up for a new movie series about magical kids (without lightning bolt scars on their foreheads, that is). And if the next chapter proves as disarmingly entertaining as the first, it will be a ride worth taking.

• Catch the wave with the new 2-disc Lilo & Stitch: Big Wave Edition Disney DVD (March 24).
• Bolt finds his way home in the new Disney DVD and Blu-ray editions of the Academy Award nominee, also out next week.
• Disneynature makes its debut with earth on (naturally) Earth Day (April 22).