Mac and Me (1988)

Director:

Stewart Raffill

Writers (WGA):

Stewart Raffill (written by) and
Steve Feke (written by)

Release Date:

12 August 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

How two boys worlds apart become the best of friends.

Plot:

A Mysterious Alien Creature (MAC ?) trying to escape from NASA is befriended by a young boy in a wheel chair. |

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Alien Contact | California | 1980s | Disguise

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Christine Ebersole	...	Janet Cruise
Jonathan Ward	...	Michael Cruise
Tina Caspary	...	Courtney (as Katrina Caspary)
Lauren Stanley	...	Debbie
Jade Calegory	...	Eric Cruise
Vinnie Torrente	...	Mitford
Martin West	...	Wickett
Ivan J. Rado	...	Zimmerman
Danny Cooksey	...	Jack Jr
Laura Waterbury	...	Linda
Jack Eiseman	...	Splatter Car Driver
Barbara Allyne-Bennet	...	Scientist
Richard Bravo	...	Mover #1
Gary Brockette	...	Doctor #2
Sherri Stone Butler	...	Checkout Girl

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Philippines:G | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #29165) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

City of Industry, California, USA

Company:

Mac and Me Joint Venture

Trivia:

The scenes in the McDonalds were all shot in City of Industry in California (just outside Los Angeles). The set was an actual McDonalds that was built specifically for filming television commercials and for crew member training. It has never been open to the public! When McDonalds (or movies, etc.) isn't using the location for filming, it is locked up behind a chain link fence. Everything works in the restaurant, but from its construction until it was torn down it never served a single paying customer.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Michael is trying to pull Eric and his wheelchair into the van while being chased, Michael is wearing sunglasses in one scene, and they are nowhere to be found before or after he pulls Eric into the van.

Quotes:

Singer: tired of feeling all by myself Being so different From everyone else Somehow you knew I needed your help Be my friend forever I never found My star in the night Feeling my dream was Far from my sight You came along and I saw the light We'll be friends...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Robot Chicken: 1987 (#2.6)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Down to Earth

E.T. phone lawyer! E.T. phone lawyer!

I was 13 the summer that MAC AND ME came out and even then I could sense how calculated and commercial it was. Naturally, I didn't see it (like the majority of the world). But with its new cult standing, I had to finally check it out and it definitely deserves its standing. What were they thinking? An E.T. rip off about 5 years too late. And not only that, it rips off a major moment from STARMAN, right down to the aliens walking through fire. The level of product placement is astounding. I haven't seen this much Coke on screen since BLOW (ah, boo yourself!). I counted 15 moments where characters offer up a Coke (Skittles and McDonalds get off light compared to that). Seriously, one could start a Coca-Cola drinking game with this but I fear people participating might have their teeth rot out by the end of the 90 minutes. I will say that I like the alien designs better than the horrifically ugly E.T., even if these aliens do look like Imogene Coca in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION. I will also give the production credit for casting a real boy in a wheelchair in the lead. I will give them a hug and kiss for throwing said boy off a cliff. Again, what in the world were they thinking? I give this a 10 for being so amazingly blatant.