Finding a sense of belonging in a new city -- or a new planet -- is a theme that runs deep in “Home.”
As the candy-colored aliens known as Boov move to Earth, attempting to escape their feared enemies the Gorgs, they forcefully relocate humans to Australia. But they manage to overlook Gratuity “Tip” Tucci, a 12-year-old girl (voiced by Rihanna) who had recently migrated from Barbados to New York City with her mother, Lucy (Jennifer Lopez). Lucy, however, is sent away.
Tip reluctantly teams up with Oh (Jim Parsons), a fugitive Boov, to reunite with her mother -- and during their global adventure they realize they must also protect Earth from a second deadly invasion by the Gorgs.
The new animated film is directed by Tim Johnson ("Antz," "Over The Hedge") and loosely based on Adam Rex’s children’s book The True Meaning of Smekday.
Ahead of the movie's nationwide debut on Friday, Johnson spoke to The Huffington Post about the movie's immigrant narrative and why he felt it was important that his heroine Tip not be animated to have a "standard supermodel body.