“E.T. phone home.” —E.T.
Today’s quick review: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Elliott (Henry Thomas) is an ordinary boy who lives with his older brother Mike (Robert MacNaughton), his younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and their mother Mary (Dee Wallace). Elliott makes an extraordinary discovery when he finds E.T., an alien who was accidentally left behind on Earth. With the help of his family, Elliott must find a way to get E.T. back home.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a family sci-fi adventure from director Steven Spielberg. The movie has a simple but iconic premise: a boy befriends an alien he discovers in his backyard. From there, the movie proceeds to tell an endearing story about friendship and loyalty. The bond between Elliott and E.T. gives the movie a rich sense of heart, while E.T.’s gradual acclimation to life on Earth is a source of both humor and wonder.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial gets a lot of little things right. The characters are entirely believable, behaving the way a family would behave when confronted with such a strange situation. The tone strikes a nice balance between light danger and family-friendly humor, with a dash of mystery thrown in when it comes to E.T. and his powers. Attentive direction and an iconic soundtrack from John Williams round out the film well.
Give E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial a shot when you’re in the mood for something light and wholesome. Likable characters and a charming premise make it an easy movie to get into, while its craftsmanship makes it a worthwhile pick even for skeptical viewers. The film’s only real flaw is that it’s telling a straightforward family story, which limits its depth and the number of surprises it has in store, and even this issue is mostly down to taste.
For another story about alien contact from Steven Spielberg, check out Close Encounters of the Third Kind. For another story about a boy making friends with a visitor from outer space, try The Iron Giant. For a darker twist on a similar premise, try Super 8.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for solid craftsmanship and cultural impact.