Mac and Me (1988) [WAY Better Than ET!]
If you're going to watch a 1980s movie about a boy befriending an alien, don't go for the cliche ET... Instead, go for the cult classic that is Mac And Me!
(Source: https://spokeonline.com/2021/02/review-mac-and-me-is-an-e-t-ripoff-with-less-nostalgia/)
We were on Tubi the other night, searching for a movie together as a family, when we came across this gem. At first, I had no intentions of watching it -- it looked like a silly rip-off of ET! 😭 (And, to an extent, IT IS!). But, our little girls were very intrigued, so we threw it on -- and I'm very glad that we did! 🙏
Mac And Me follows a family of aliens who are searching planets for water. However, after getting sucked into the NASA research probe and being sent to a military base, the family is separated while trying to escape!
(Source: https://tenor.com/en-CA/view/mac-and-me-just-waking-up-gif-26350318)
One of the little aliens, who eventually is named Mac, makes his getaway with a young family in their mini-van. Unaware of their newest passenger, they all travel to their new home in Los Angeles.
Similar to ET, the film focuses on Mac trying to relocate his family and make it back home (with plenty of mishaps along the way!). However, there are some notable differences that are definitely worth mentioning!
The way that the aliens communicate with one another makes me giggle: they emit a sad, high-pitched whistle that can reach one another, regardless of the distance.
(Source: https://tenor.com/en-CA/view/mac-and-me-ufo-spaceship-aliens-alien-gif-9261052350681024619)
The animation for the aliens' HUGE googly eyes KILLS me!! 😭😭
(Source: https://tenor.com/en-CA/view/mac-and-me-alien-cult-classics-old-movies-gif-12123476)
(Source: https://worstmoviesevermade.com/mac-and-me-1988/)
This scene, where Eric (the protagonist) accidentally rolls down a giant hill into the lake.
(Source: https://tenor.com/en-CA/view/mac-and-me-wheelchair-cliff-swim-diving-gif-18547347)
The family's next-door neighbor, Debbie, is extremely cute and charming, and the movie attempted to make her VERY Native American ("I'm communicating with the earth!").
There is a scene where all of the neighborhood dogs chase Mac in his 6-volt car, and it's absolutely hilarious.
(Source: https://tenor.com/en-CA/view/mac-and-me-mac-and-me-mcdonald's-gif-6329936548941261522)
The McDonald's dance number is absolutely legendary -- like something out of a fever dream!
(Source: https://makeagif.com/gif/mac-and-me-full-mcdonalds-dance-scene-kLyId0)
Similar to ET and his Reese's Pieces, the aliens are addicted to Coca Cola, and making an appearance at the grocery store is actually what gets them caught!
The aliens have healing abilities, and they literally revive Eric (the protagonist) from the dead! 😱 (He returns still paralyzed, though! 😩)
The aliens become US citizens! 😭 The ending is the aliens in court, taking an oath!