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Mac and Me (1988)

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From Time Out Film Guide

First the good news: Jade Calegory, who plays the boy-hero in this cuddly alien yarn, was born with spina bifida, and the film is neither sentimental nor exploitative in dealing with its wheelchair-confined star. Unfortunately, there's little else to commend. Unless you missed E.T., you know the story: an alien, separated from its family and hunted by nameless agents, hides in suburban California, befriends a boy, and is saved by the neighbourhood kids. Directed by Raffill with no hint of wit, personality or invention, the film soon degenerates into a litany of product placements: every frame is littered with Coke cans, and the invitation to interpret 'Mac' as 'Mysterious Alien Creature' is unlikely to fool anyone even before the song-and-dance number that pops up in a well-known junk-food chain. Mind-blowingly, the last item on the shopping list of hard sells is America itself: the alien no longer wants to go home, he's found a better life in LA. Give the kids a break; take them to something else.

Author: TCh

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

phil said...

Posted on May 23 2009 10:13 i actually enjoyed this film as a kid and it may have l;ots of advertising in it but to be honest as a kid i thought the alien was the best thing about this film. Havent seen it in a long time and maybe my opion would change but as a kid this film made me laugh!
Leave your brain at the door kind of film, it may seem funny that an alien wants to live on this planet, but isnt the idea of an alien making freinds with a boy that keeps feeding an alien coca cola strange enough and maybe a bit bizarre anyway. ITS A KIDS FILM, it doesnt have to make sense!

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