Mac and Me (1988)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Brilliant and touching

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

IMHO Mac and Me is far superior to E.T. I can understand the obvious comparisons, but I just really loved Mac's interaction with his Mom and Dad, ALSO how their whistling communication could express the emotions they were feeling at a given time. I know I am in the minority about this, but I like the movie a lot.

I remember when I saw that movie in elementary school & I thought Mac is so adorable & It's a good family film about a boy in a wheelchair helping the little alien to find his family.Even though it got very bad reviews & It's a rip-off of E.T.,I don't care & I love Mac & me,it's a gr8 cult classic that got Mac in a bear costume doing a dance number @ a party @ McDonald's,Mac driving a toy car while being chased by the neighborhood dogs & it was very touching that Mac reunited with his family.I would be watching that movie when it's on YouTube or that I'll be getting the DVD over & over again when I feel like it & The ending have really touched my heart when Mac and his family use their powers to bring the boy back from the dead & they became citizens in the U.S.,when mac blew a bubble from the gum that said "we'll be back",I don't think there's a sequel coming but,I wish they'll be 1 so I can see it

First off I'd like to state that haven't seen this film since 1990 on HBO. But even the trailers warned of doom. When the trailer isn't narrated by Don LaFontaine but by Ronald McDonald (not kidding) you know this film isn't even trying to be taken seriously! 'Mac and Me' was obviously trying to exploit the phenomenal success of 'E.T.' which remained playing in theaters for over 3 years into 1984! But it was only available on VHS in bootleg format until 1989. Hence, in 1988 there was a void that needed to be filled. America was E.T.less until 'Mac and Me.' Well first off this film isn't nearly as bad as everyone says. It's just rightfully one of the most hated films of all time because it's such an obvious rip off of 'E.T.'!!! Right down to scene by scene! Not kidding, some scenes are identical to 'E.T.' like the G men chasing the school kids.It's pointless to describe the plot because it's exactly like 'E.T.'!!! I can't stress this enough! From how the boy meets the alien to how the single mom finds out her sons have been hiding it, it's exactly like 'E.T.' Except not good. But not really that bad.Imagine if the Lifetime network was given the screenplay for 'E.T.' rather than Steven Spielberg.The cartoonish action violence is also WAY over done. Sure E.T. himself took some Tom & Jerry style blows but here poor Mac gets the full Ren & Stimpy treatment. Getting sucked through vacuum cleaners more than once and getting bounced off car windshields.If all this is supposed to be comical, it's NOT. Poor Mac is like the Wiley Coyote of cute aliens.The only other difference is that this time Elliot is in a wheelchair. This way McDonald's which produced the film can boast about how the Ronald McDonald House helps the families of crippled kids.In conclusion I can think of no reason to watch this film other than the fact that 'E.T.'s Blue Ray release has been totally bastardized by new shoddy CGI FX and reedited to be more friendly. Such as removing the G men's hand guns and changing some dialogue. WHY? 'E.T.' was perfect! Just leave it the fxxx alone! Once again the clear solution to this problem is to simply watch a bootleg VHS of 'E.T.'

Don't let that 8 rating fool you; "Mac and Me" is an awful movie. A blatant (nay, shameless) ripoff of "E.T." - right down to the broken home and identical neighborhood - it's hard to believe such crap was earnestly marketed to kids. But viewed in the right context (with friends, beer flowing), this movie makes for a night of comic hilarity. It's not just the terrible product placement (Coca-Cola, Skittles and Valvoline are all in your face . . . also there's the random dance party at McDonald's that grinds the movie to a halt), but the low-rent makeup effects on the aliens, who have only one facial expression: surprise! Add to that the really bad white family we have to side with, the token bad-guy Feds, and the quality of acting that's just a shade above "Troll 2" that make "Mac and Me" so unbelievably shoddy. It's just not a movie you can take seriously. So I can't give this flick a bad rating because I had way too many mean-spirited laughs during the entire ride. That dummy going off the cliff in the wheelchair (in a serious drama moment . . . that's what you can expect here) is priceless. And what blows my mind is that the guy who directed this movie also wrote it! You have to believe in this nonsense pretty hard to put that much work into it. I'm not sure there's a better example of something so bad that it comes out the other end smelling of ironic roses.8/10