Project: ALF (Telefilm)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C+
An ALF
film…can anyone say YES?!? Up for
criticism is the 1996 film Project: ALF. A decade after his 1986 television premiere
and a little over five years after he went off the air, the furry alien life
form returns in an all new telefilm. The
film takes place, apparently, after ALF left the Tanner family to go back to
his home planet, but instead was prematurely intercepted by the US Government’s
ATF (Alien Task Force). The movie starts
with the heads of the government debating what to do with this alien life form
they have captured, with the army’s generals saying he should be destroyed and
other military officials saying he is harmless.
In a
shocking twist, it seems that ALF has a pretty good set-up at the classified
army base, having a gambling parlor, all the food he can eat, and even a
personal military slave staff.
Nevertheless, fearing that ALF may be destroyed the two more empathetic
military officials snatch ALF in the middle of the night to release him. ALF does not like the fact that he has been
stripped of his lavish military comforts and tips off the government of the
trio’s whereabouts. From this a wild
road trip of galactic proportions ensues, with the US Government closely
trailing behind.
The film
uses some stars such as Martin Sheen, Ed Begley, Jensen Daggett, Ray Walston to
bring a great sense of comic relief, utilizing the archetypal straight man,
comedian motif to display the running jokes (ALF the undying comedian).
The
technical aspects of this 2005 DVD release now re-released in 2007, the 1.33 X
1 telefilm offers nothing impressive, but not horrible either. The film is presented in a disappointing
Dolby Digital Full Screen that varies in quality throughout, the color having
light/dark issues and at times the transfer only seeming to be a notch above a
VHS analog transfer. The sound is
presented in a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo that does not ‘POP’ when it is suppose
to and at times the characters voices almost sound distant. The extras might as well be nonexistent, only
offering ALF fans cast and crew bios that are quite boring. On the up side, fans do receive a free ALF key
chain with purchase.
The key to
enjoying this telefilm is to not take it too seriously. The film is fun and full of life and
definitely caters to fans of the old television series. The film also seemed to be an attempt to
resurface ALF love, but fell a little short of its goal. ALF is a classic 1980’s staple that will live
on in lunch boxes and car commercials, but it is also nice to see him from time
to time on TV shows and movies again.
- Michael P Dougherty II
