Batteries Not Included (1987) - Hagfilms Honest Reviews

It's a wonderful uplifting fairy tale, a kind of sci-fi homage to the Elves and The Shoemaker, with terrific and heartfelt performances from its ensemble cast of relative newcomers, most of who would never see such important roles again. Its main theme was common of the zeitgeist of the 80's, when money really began to talk, corporations boomed and generally everything got bigger and better.

Originally written to be an episode in Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories TV show, the story is et in a New York apartment building and is told through the plight of its residents who are refusing to be bullied out of their homes by a local property developer. They in turn receive help by a group of tiny visitors from out of space, not aliens, but mechanical UFO's, who just love to mend broken objects. Spielberg loved the story so much that he had to make it into a movie.

The story opens with Carlos (Michael Carmine), a hired thug, threatening and attempting to bribe these people out of their homes. Through his unsuccessful exploits we meet the various tenants, including Mason, an artist, who's girlfriend, very much an 80's girl with material needs, leaves him at the outset, we meet gentle giant and retired boxer Harry Noble (Frank McRae), as well as single pregnant woman Marisa.

Most importantly we meet the central characters to our story Frank and Faye, played by real life couple Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy who had recently appeared in Ron Howards Cocoon together. Frank is the struggling husband to the oblivious Faye, who's senility leaves in her own world set sometime before the tragic death of her son, Bobby. Tandy's role is memorable, and Cronyn's struggle is truly felt on his arduous journey as his wife's husband and carer. Their story becomes a perfect centrepiece for the movie.

All of the characters are pretty much strangers in the same building in the outset, and clearly fighting a losing battle by refusing to budge. Just as it looks like all hope is lost, their visitors arrive. The tiny mechanical aliens not only come to repair the objects broken by the thug Carlos, but also to unite the characters, strengthening their bond and signifying a lost sense of community in these modern times, highlighting the fact that a problem shared is a problem halved. Where they had all struggled individually towards the same goal in vane, together, as a team their actions become more powerful.

Nostalgia resonates throughout the movie, its opening credits roll over aging photo's of golden days, again the idea of community present, and the feel good jazz soundtrack through out the movie helps to keep us mindful of the olden days, specifically we can assume, Frank and Faye's days. Even Faye's dementia keeps her mentally fixed in days gone past, and she struggles to see the modern problems they all face.

The special effects by Industrial Lights and Magic are mostly still pretty good, but obviously there are moments where they seem a little dated by now. But unlike a lot of the movies of this style and era, the special effects take a casual back seat to the star of the movie, which truly is the human journey, the effects as well as the small craft really acting as a catalyst that rekindles our faith in mankind.

It's a film that teaches us that Life is full of pain and heartbreak, and that together it becomes a little easier. Its a movie of hope and friendship, and of love over material. It still speaks at the volume it had when it was released, and its retrospective and nostalgic feel make it more timeless than an 80's movie really should have been. As I said, it remains to be one of my favourite movies of all time, and one that I feel should be reintroduced to all of our children. Not with a shoddy remake though, but by way of digitally enhanced re-release and a fresh promotion.

Category:

Comedy

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[FlareStriker]

I don't hear anything

[Hagfilms]

@FlareStriker - i dont know why. try again - im hearing it as i type this

[Hagfilms]

@FlareStriker ??? Dont know why that it is. Again - its working fine for me here. Sorry.

[NikiLuther]

Just finished watching this film again for the umpteenth time and found your review. I was happy to hear you say that it was back on your favorites list - it truly deserves to be there. However, I need to add to what madworld1427 said about Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy - not only were they not new they were also NOT known as TV actors. Both were seasoned THEATER actors, both with Tony awards and numerous nominations. I miss them "popping up here and there."

[Hagfilms]

@NikiLuther - yea i know it sounds as though i had called all cast TV actors, but i hadnt meant for it to sound like i had placed Hume and Jessica in that catagorory - I was referring to the rest of the cast more than anything. As i said to MADWORLD it was a bit of a misunderstanding, i hadnt made it sound so clear obviously. My apologies.

[Hagfilms]

Theres a film i havent watched for ages. haha. will have to look into it, probably not seen it since i was too young to get it

[GlennRoxWyo]

I think you read to much into it. It was just a movie. A GOOD ONE, but just a movie non-the less

[FlareStriker]

@gavlang That might be the problem. My right speaker is blown

[gavlang]

@FlareStriker I only hear on the right earphone not the left.

[FlareStriker]

@Hagfilms Wierd. Youtube fail? Cause I have my volume up to max and I get nothing

[FlareStriker]

@Hagfilms After the intro,I still hear nothing