Can Of Worms

(Disney Channel) 7 p.m. Saturday

Disney's original movie for television "Can of Worms" is an inventive boy's tale with some impressive special effects to help boost an already original script. Teens and those just younger are the target audience for this fast-moving story about a boy who wishes he could communicate with alien beings and to his chagrin gets what he wants.

Michael Shulman is young Mike Pillsbury, who's having a tough time making emotional ends meet. Though his home life is fine, he's bullied by his ornery and mean-spirited nemesis, Scott (Marcus Turner). So Mike turns to his homemade backyard contraption (it looks like a satellite dish) to communicate his woes to aliens in space. (Mike suspects he's not really an earthling anyway, as much as his parents try to dispel the notion.) But he opens up a humongous can of worms when the aliens begin arriving on Earth to cart him away and wreak havoc in his quiet middle-class neighborhood.

The centerpieces in "Worms" are the eyeful special effects -- some gooey and colorful foam latex critters designed by L.A.-based special effects house Steve Johnson XFX. Director Paul Schneider comes in a close second in nicely choreographing his young cast and the puppeteers who get the aliens to move.

And Kathy Mackel's teleplay is quick-witted and alien-savvy, smart enough to keep up with today's teen audiences. The telepic is from Can of Worms Prods. Ltd.

Marilyn Moss



THE PLOT TO KILL LINCOLN

(TLC) 10 p.m. Sunday

Amazingly, 130 years or so later, the debate continues to rage over who was involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

The little-known facts presented in this docu are fascinating, though some of the re-creations are unnecessary and repetitive. However, it's a worthwhile program that will be of compelling interest to history buffs and conspiracy fans. At an hour, the show doesn't overstay its welcome.

"Plot" is well-produced for TLC by Indigo Films. Executive producer is David M. Frank. The docu traces the events of the fateful night and the motivations of possible Union government insiders, including Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of War Edward Stanton, who were accused by some of abetting or masterminding the killing.

Among those trying to uncover the events are descendants of Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor sentenced to life after treating the fugitive actor-assassin John Wilkes Booth. They want to clear his name.

And among the oddities surrounding the assassination is the fact that Lincoln's bodyguard was conveniently gone when Booth showed up -- yet the bodyguard was later reinstated. Could a higher-up have arranged that?

Michael Farkash



Eco-Challenge

(Discovery)

9 p.m. Sunday and Monday

Now in its fourth year, the Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge again offers an intimate look at selected teams from 27 countries around the world. They range in age from 20-65.

Last fall, 55 teams gathered in Morocco to began the 315-mile journey -- which included camel riding, hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, horseback riding, swimming, mountain biking. In the first two hours, the 19 camera crews focus on teams that appear to have the most interesting members and, quite possibly, the potential to win.

This decision, by executive producer Angus Yates and his crew, is ripe with the inherent drama. The competitors battle with personality differences, exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration and altitude sickness.

Most interesting are the portraits of participants -- as the audience gets to know them, developing likes and dislikes, it's easy to get caught up in cheering for the preferred team and members.

The two-part, four-hour documentary is shot in an invigorating, enthusiastic manner, with cameras swirling above and around. Interspersed are interviews and judicious editing cuts.

Liam Neeson provides the narration, although his voice work wasn't dubbed into the review tape.

N.F. Mendoza