Before the Internet and globalisation national cinema distributors were quite creative in their attempts to sell Hollywood films to their audiences and often pulled stunts they couldn’t get away with it now. Thus in late 1980s Yugoslav cinemas appeared poster with the title Extraterrestrial Part II and tagline “He’s back”. Despite such suggestions, the film in question not only wasn’t sequel to popular E.T. but didn’t feature any alien character at all. It was more terrestrial affair titled Harry and the Hendersons and directed by William Dear.
The plot begins in forests of US Pacific Northwest when George Henderson (played by John Lithgow) returns from camping trip together with wife Nancy (played by Melinda Dillon), teenage daughter Sarah (played by Margaret Langrick) and young son Ernie (played by Joshua Rudoy). On the way their station wagon bumps into something huge and, upon inspection, discovers that it is sasquatch a.k.a. Bigfoot, legendary ape-like creature rumoured to live in the area. George decides to bring its body to family’s suburban home in Seattle, but during the night they discover that the creature is very much alive. At first, it causes utter mayhem and destruction but George and other family members realise that Bigfoot (played by Kevin Peter Hall), despite the huge size and strength, is actually harmless and quite gentle. They name him Harry and temporarily hold him as pet while trying to prevent outside world from learning about his existence. At the same time, Jacques LaFleur (played by David Suchet), hunter who have been trying to catch elusive creature for decades, tracks down Harry to Hendersons’ home.
In retrospect, the distributors weren’t far from the target. The film was made by Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg’s studio and the plot had its basic premise – strange creature gets lost and arrives into American middle class suburbia – and other details similar to E.T. that it could have been interpreted as spiritual remake of Spielberg’s masterpiece. That was probably the reason why critics didn’t like the film, seeing it as unoriginal, over-sentimental and manipulative. While there are many similarities, there are differences. Most notably, the protagonist is an adult, and played by John Lithgow, prolific and respected actor who usually played villains or supporting character and who here excels in rare opportunity to play leading man. Character of George Henderson, who transforms from avid hunter and gun enthusiast into pacifist who learns that killing animals for sport is wrong, is brilliantly portrayed. Same can be said for the rest of the cast, most notably Don Ameche in the role of old scientist. But the most important ingredient of this film is character of Harry. He is brilliantly portrayed by Kevin Peter Hall, an actor whose unusual height made him play monsters (most notably in Predator). Here he excels in playing someone quite sympathetic, aided by brilliant design and dedicated team of puppeteers led by Rick Baker.
Anyone who wants to call this film Spielbergian will find the additional arguments in the script that celebrates family values, as well as music score by Bruce Broughton that sounds very much like John Williams’ work in Spielberg’s classics. William Dear, who also co-wrote the script, unfortunately lacks Spielberg’s talent and it reflects mostly in poor pacing that makes the film too long for younger viewers. While the opening of the film is intriguing, the middle section, that deals with Harry adapting to the life in Hendersons’ home and his escape onto the streets of Seattle, is much weaker, overlong and full of repetitive jokes. Impression is saved by brilliant and emotional ending. Harry and the Henderson is a good film that would satisfy anyone who likes classic Spielbergian family-friendly entertainment. Kevin Peter Hall, who would few years later tragically die of HIV, repeated the role of Harry in the first season of eponymous television series.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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