Many Hollywood films responsible for nostalgia towards 1980s cinema initially underperformed at the box office only to build their cult status based on home video and repeated television screenings. Among those that were more deserving of such status is Flight of the Navigator, 1986 science fiction adventure film directed by Randal Kleiser.
The plot begins in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 4th 1978. The protagonist, played by Joey Kramer, is Paul Freeman, 12-year old boy sent by their parents (played by Veronica Cartwright and Cliff DeYoung) to bring back his 8-year old brother Jeff (played by Albie Whitaker) home from playing in the nearby woods. He does so, but soon slips, falls into ravine and gets unconscious. When he wakes up he gradually realises that eight years have passed and that Jeff (played by Matt Adler) is now 16-years old. This coincides with the discovery of an alien space ship which crashed through the power lines and is now researched in NASA facility by team of scientists led by Dr. Louis Farraday (played by Howard Hesseman). Paul is also brought there and subjected to tests that reveal that he can directly communicate with computers and that he was actually brought to distant planet Phaelon. Paul establishes telepathic contact with the ship and, unhappy with being away from family, escapes only to be brought to the ship. There he finds its robotic pilot “Max” (voiced by Paul Reubens) that calls Paul “navigator” and asks for star charts that were deployed in Paul’s brain and which are necessary for the ship to return home.
Produced by Disney primarily for younger audience, Flight of the Navigator had a premise that represented interesting mix of motives from two iconic 1980s science fiction films - E.T. (young boy befriending the alien) and Back to the Future (time travel). Randal Kleiser directs film very well and good example is opening scene, which semi-humorously and effectively foreshadows events of the plot. Script by Michael Burton and Matt MacManus takes time to build the plot and the first half, in which Freeman encounters familiar but frighteningly changed new world is quite dark for a family-friendly film, which also includes motives of governments and scientists using Paul as test subject without his or his family’s consent. While there is some humour, action is lacking but everything changes in second half where Paul gets into the ship and becomes “navigator”. This section featured some of the first examples of modern CGI in history of Hollywood, namely reflection mapping techniques that allowed alien space ship to be presented as live object on the screen. Targetted audience was, however, more likely impressed by various cute Muppet-like creatures “Max” had gathered as specimens in the film, as well “Max” becoming increasingly goofy and adopting Paul’s mannerisms and language after being connected to Paul’s brain. Tonal shift between those two parts is, however, the biggest flaw of Flight of the Navigator and probably the reason why the film initially failed to make impact in cinemas. Canadian child actor Joey Kramer, however, does quite solid job in the role unusually complex for family-friendly films. The rest of the cast is also good, especially DeYoung and Cartwright in the roles of parents traumatised by apparent loss of child. Sarah Jessica Parker in the role of Carolyn McAdams, young NASA employee who helps Paul escape, is solid but not memorable and her character seems a redundant. Music by Alan Silvestri, based entirely on synthesisers, quite effective and in line with 1980s trends, which is important for a film that is firmly set in certain time period. Flight of the Navigator is mostly entertaining film that could be recommended for younger viewers, although it requires some of their patience. Viewers that are nostalgic towards 1980s probably won’t have too many complaints.
RATING: 7/10 (++)
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