Big Screen Peter: Super 8

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie.

review by Peter Lewis

There’s nothing exceedingly novel about “Super 8,” a new sci-fi thriller from director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg. In fact, it’s much like any other film you might have seen in the 1980s that happened to sport (pre) adolescent antagonists. From “Red Dawn” or “The Goonies” to “Taps” or even “Stand By Me,” this new film appears as a rough-hewn amalgamation aimed at duplicating the wonder of those films, but with better explosions. Much of the film actually resembled a blood-letting revision to another classic “kids” tale from the 1980s, “E.T.”

One common characteristic of these types of movies is a suspension of belief. They’re films of empowerment to a sub-set of the population that generally relies on parental permission for anything they want to do.

So, there’s plenty of adventure to be had: late night conversations, secret rendezvous and plenty of youthful bravado to accomplish what the adults can’t see. And somehow it’s all accomplished with little damage, to the kids naturally. The same can’t be said for adults or the town of Lillian, Ohio, because Spielberg certainly didn’t skimp on the explosions.

As the film opens, we’re introduced to the frenzied life of the family-centered mining community in Ohio circa 1979. Four months after losing his mother to a mill accident, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) sets out to help his best pal Charles (Riley Griffiths) make a zombie movie. A late-night film session grants the band of friends and their lead actress/love interest (Elle Fanning as Alice Dainard) a front seat view to a horrific, but perplexing train-wreck.

From that astounding vantage point, the gang experiences a whirlwind of life in a matter of days: from alien beings and secret governmental projects to more ho-hum things like first loves. That it’s carried off in such a matter of fact way gives the film a certain appeal. Adding to this appeal is the intriguing normalcy fostered by the garrulous and often witty banter between Joe and his pals.

From the diminutive pyro Carey (Ryan Lee) to the halting, understated Alice (Elle Fanning), the ensemble proved quite capable as actors. In fact, even with implausibilities littered throughout the film, the youthful performances are the most astounding feature of the film on display. You need more than words (and explosions) to make a film pop. Those young actors were virtual firecrackers.

So where does the film falter? Or better yet, how? 

The cinematic piggy-backing is easily forgiven as “Super 8” is able to capture some of the awed wonderment possessed by those films it emulates. And as a result, the audience is naturally invested in the kids and their relationships with one another, but the monster? Did they really expect us to relate to the alien’s voluminous anger and thirst for revenge? Were we supposed to get emotional as we saw it hop on its bike, excuse me, space ship, and shoot off toward Never Never Land? That’s a bit much to swallow.

In the end, “Super 8” just proves that Hollywood is still conning us. It just so happens that the sappy schlock is an above average ruse. And that’s damned frustrating.

• Super 8 is playing at the Carmike 14 and the Malco Cinema 12 in Fort Smith, and the Malco Van Buren Cinema. Link here for time and ticket info.

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