Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Robert McNaughton, C. Thomas Howell
E.T. was the highest grossing film in movie history until Spielberg's own Jurassic Park (1993) surpassed it a decade later. Both films are similar. Both films are about strange, awe-inspiring beings threatened by humans. Jurassic Park and its sequels were disappointing, mostly because Spielberg brings dinosaurs to life only to have them shot at and killed like monsters in a video game. E.T. is much more touching, sweet, observant, and funny. We see a lot of humanity in the alien in E.T., and in some instances, even more than in humans themselves.
The E.T. of the title is a timid alien, probably a child himself, stranded on Earth after the mother ship accidentally strands him. Alone and afraid, E.T. is discovered in the woods by the shy Elliott (Thomas), whose parents recently divorced. Elliott takes E.T. home and hides him from his mother (Wallace), who has enough of her own issues distracting her. Elliott's older brother (McNaughton) and younger sister (Barrymore) befriend E.T. and hide him, even in plain sight when E.T. goes out trick or treating with Elliott with everyone assuming it is the kid sister in disguise.
Elliott and E.T. meet each other and learn from each other. They come together at a time in their lives when they need a friend the most. However, Elliott's secret doesn't stay one for long and soon federal agents are watching the neighborhood for signs of the alien. The story is riveting, all the more because we know how it must end. E.T. is no longer safe on Earth and he misses his family, which causes the empathetic Elliott to build him a makeshift telephone which can somehow communicate into outer space and possibly the mother ship.
E.T. is an alien we hadn't seen before or since, unless you count the cute lookalike in Meatballs, Part II. Yes, I brought up Meatballs, Part II in my review of Spielberg's classic film. He has wide eyes, wrinkles all over him, a skinny neck which can crane, and a low, calming voice. Only an absolute curmudgeon can't love the little guy. I can't adequately describe his shape, but he doesn't look at all like the Martians we've seen that wanted to destroy the planet in previous sci-fi films. We love E.T. because he is gentle and has the same emotions as the rest of us. We can identify with him even though he comes from another world. We see him as Elliott sees him, although the feds see him for a different purpose.
There is a revelatory scene in which one of the scientists studying E.T. (played by Peter Coyote) gives a long, edifying speech comforting Elliott about the wonder an alien like E.T. can present to humans. How much we can learn from him if only we would allow it. There is little doubt Spielberg made E.T. to show us all how an alien can teach us all to be a little more trusting, loving, caring, and human. Very few directors can present us with such a film and doesn't make it manipulative, but thrilling and, of course, work the tear ducts just right.
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