Cute devilry from Spielberg

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 4

Cute devilry from Spielberg

at the cinema

hans petrovic

BIGFOOT AND THE HENDERSONS Directed by William Dear Written by William Dear, William E. Martin and Ezra D. Rappaport In “Bigfoot and the 1 Hendersons” (Midcity), the search for cuddly creatures to present in holiday movies takes us to the scenic wooded hills of the American PacificNorthwest. Instead of E.T.s or Gremlins, we are presented with a new member of the Spielberg grimoire of cute devilry — the Sasquatch. Although Steven Spielberg is mentioned nowhere in the credits of “Bigfoot,” the film was made by his Amblin Entertainment studios, and it definitely has his touch. Even during the credits, as the Henderson family returns by car from holiday in the Cascade Mountains, every turn of the road reveals another bushy-tailed, furry denizen of the wilds — be it squirrel, otter, young puma or bear cub. Once the Hendersons come on the scene, however, it soon becomes clear that humans are

nowhere near as nice as their four-legged cousins — or even that woolly, two-legged one they bowl over with their car. Considering the creature dead, the Hendersons — father George (John Lithgow), mother Nancy (Melinda Dillon), teenager Sarah (Margaret Langrick) and young son Ernest (Joshua Rudoy) — tie it to the top of their car, possibly to donate it to a museum. Once at home, however, they find him to be much more quick than dead, especially when he starts to demolish the walls, doorways and stairs. George has called the legendary creature Harry, and on perceiving his intelligent eyes, winning gestures and winsome grin, it does not take the family long to realise that beneath that shaggy fur, and overwhelming odour, there is something close to human. At the same time, Harry is trying to figure them out. They are the first humans he has ever seen ip their own environment, and they are as outrageous to him as he

originally appears to them. Besides the Hendersons, there are two men who have spent most of their lives anticipating Bigfoot’s discovery. One is a cantankerous, but ultimately dedicated, anthropologist (Don Ameche) who has all but given up his dream of finding him; the other is a menacing hunter (David Suchet) whose life-long interest is to kill one. Over all, "Bigfoot” provides ample opportunity comedy, chaos, car chases and treacly sentimentality,. with most of the scenes being stolen by smelly Harry himself — in comparison, it is the children and the hunter who are the monstrous brats. “Bigfoot” is certainly

one of the best family films in town these holidays. It is only a pity that Hollywood cannot refrain from its obsession with guns, and four-letter language, in what is obviously intended as a gentle, children’s film. The following is a quick resume of other holiday fare: “Innerspace” (Westend): Great entertainment in the Spielberg tradition. A complicated plot about a man who is miniaturised and injected into the body of another. Non-stop action and laughs. “Flight of the Navigator” (Savoy 1): From the Disney studios, a wishfulfilment tale about a boy who manages to get hold of a U.F.0., enabling him to travel around the world to any place he desires. “The Nutcracker” (Academy): The first feature-film version of Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet suite is a true delight, presenting about the only alternative to the otherwise over-hyped, commercial children’s entertainment. “The Living Dayl’ghts” (Regent 2): Timothy Dal-

ton, as the fourth James Bond, carries on in the tried and tested tradition of his predecessors. Hardly fresh or original, but still a great diversion. “Mannequin” (Avon): The personable Andrew McCarthy realises two great fantasies: he brings to life the girl of his dreams — a shop window mannequin by day, but flesh and blood by night — and cavorts with her in a huge department store. Aimed mainly at the lateteens and early-20s market. “Masters of the Universe” (Savoy 2): Dolph Lundgren plays a. real-life version of He-Man, the Mattel Toys superhero seen in animated form on TV. One gets the impression the film is made mainly to promote the sale of the toys with an adventure that looks likh a B-Grade version of “Star Wars.” “Leonard Part 6” (Regent 1): Try as hard as he may, Bill Cosby simply does not come across as funny in this superspy send-up as’ he does in his TV series. The film should do well, however, going just on the strength of his name.