The presence of the distinguished Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy makes this saccharine-sodden retread of Cocoon worth watching. They play residents of a doomed New York block of flats who find the unlikeliest of allies in the shape of a friendly group of alien space creatures. It's made by Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin, but, sadly, there is little of his magic touch here (even though it's based on one of his scripts for the Amazing Stories TV series), and director Matthew Robbins lets sentimentality run supreme. Nevertheless, Cronyn and Tandy effortlessly rise above it all, and children and soft-hearted adults will be enchanted.

In a soon to be demolished block of apartments, the residents resist the criminal methods used to force them to leave so a greedy tycoon can build his new skyscraper. When tiny mechanical aliens land for a recharge, they decide to stay and help out.