L.A. Film Festival: Teens take on extraterrestrials in ‘Attack the Block’

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Who’d be better at fending off an alien invasion: cowboys from the Old West or kids from the inner city?

It’s a question that could keep one occupied for hours during a night of mind-altering substances. But thanks to the scheduling geniuses in Hollywood, movie fans will actually get to have that question answered on July 29. That’s when “Attack the Block,” a dry comedy about a south London gang set upon by extraterrestrials, comes out -- on the same day as “Cowboys & Aliens.”

Written and directed by Joe Cornish and produced by the guys involved in fan favorites “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” “Attack” was acquired by Sony Screen Gems after an enthusiastic SXSW screening this spring. On Wednesday night at the L.A. Film Festival, several hundred Angelenos got a chance to size up the relative merits of the earthly defenders.

One thing’s for sure: The British kids in “Attack” are hardly as well-equipped as Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and the other American rough riders of “Cowboys”: Aside from a gun or two, the Brit posse’s arsenal consists mainly of a samurai sword, kitchen knives, fireworks and a super-soaker.

Then again, their alien visitors seem to come from a much less advanced planet. (No flying saucers with tractor beams here, a la “Cowboys.”) One beastie is aptly described as looking like what would happen if a “monkey [had sex with] a fish” while others are extremely furry, ape-like creatures on speed with teeth that glow blue. Actor John Boyega, who plays the 15-year-old crew leader Moses and was present for Wednesday night’s screening, said the invaders were on set, not digitally added later.

Unlike the we’re-dead-serious, this-is-not-a-comedy “Cowboys,” “Attack” thankfully has a sense of humor about itself, if you can keep up with the thick accents. Funnyman Nick Frost appears as Ron, the public housing complex’s resident pot farmer, but most of the laughs come from the much younger gang of relatively fresh-faced teens. These are kids who get around on bikes or motor scooters, still have 10 p.m. curfews and face certain challenges in fending off the aliens. One of them runs out of credits on his mobile phone, while another has to convince some local girls that no, he’s not playing Xbox -- those really are aliens invading.

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-- Julie Makinen