Project: ALF (1996) [Blu-ray review]
Project: ALF is a special morsel of a film that exists between viewing generations.
Before peak TV allowed serialized stories to end on their own terms, cult classic sitcoms often faced abrupt cancellations without a proper finale. Such was the fate of ALF, the beloved 1980s NBC sitcom about a furry alien stranded on Earth. After four seasons of family-friendly hijinks, ALF met his premature end. It wasn’t until 1996 that loyal fans got closure with the TV movie Project: ALF. Now on Blu-ray, this nostalgic coda provides a bittersweet goodbye to everyone’s favorite wisecracking Melmacian.
Project: ALF captures the sci-fi comedy’s goofy charm while injecting surprisingly high stakes. As ALF confronts the prospect of captivity and experimentation by the government, the film balances humor with a newfound sense of jeopardy. Revisiting this cult curio reveals an amusing blast from the past and a worthy — if uneven — closer for an iconic character.
Filling the Void After a Cliffhanger Cancellation
When ALF concluded its fourth season in 1990, the series ended on a cliffhanger with the alien’s existence exposed to the Alien Task Force. NBC unexpectedly axed the show before this plotline could resolve. The cancelation provoked outrage among devoted viewers who had grown up with ALF’s adventures.
ALF remained a pop culture staple through syndication, yet his enduring popularity could not will the show back for a proper sendoff. It took six years before NBC greenlit a TV movie to finally provide closure. Project: ALF was crafted to satisfy fans’ curiosity while avoiding a big-budget spectacle.
Premiering in 1996, Project: ALF found a new home on ABC reuniting human costars Max Wright, Andrea Elson and Anne Schedeen. ALF creator Paul Fusco returned to don the puppet. While unlikely to attract new viewers, this nostalgic offering gave loyalists the closure they craved.
Signature Silliness Meets High Stakes
The film opens with ALF’s capture by the government’s Alien Task Force, led by the sinister Colonel Gilbert Milfoil. He plans to transfer ALF to a Florida lab for dissection and experiments. ALF’s old friends the Ochmoneks team up with a kindhearted sergeant (Martin Sheen) to infiltrate the facility and save their alien pal.
Project: ALF recaptures the sitcom’s goofy sensibilities, with ALF cracking wise amid his dire predicament. Sight gags, one-liners and nods to 1980s pop culture will induce smiles for those fondly remembering the series. While geared towards kids, jokes about Gilligan’s Island and Elvis appeal to parents too.
At the same time, placing ALF’s life in jeopardy gives events an air of tension absent from the sitcom. There are legitimately suspenseful moments as the team sneaks ALF past armed guards and security systems. The film deftly balances the seriousness of ALF’s plight with requisite comic relief.
While unlikely to convert new fans, Project: ALF affectionately evokes its source material. Nostalgic viewers will crack up at ALF playing with a Speak & Spell and other vintage tech. When the alien finally dons his signature cat-eating grin in the end, it feels like the classic ALF of old.
CGI Lets ALF Shine
A major point of interest is ALF’s transition from puppet to CGI. The computer effects allow ALF to walk, emote and interact more seamlessly than his clunky puppet ever could. This pays off in newfound emotional range for comedic and dramatic moments.
No longer confined to static shots at waist level, the CG ALF convincingly moves about the scenery for added dynamism. He credibly jumps, dances and falls over objects. ALF’s digital fur even blows in the wind practically. While the CGI looks dated now, it was cutting-edge then and lets ALF’s personality come through.
The puppet version does make some appearances and works fine for stationary scenes. But the CG was wisely employed to make ALF feel more tangibly part of the action. This tech upgrade also enabled sweeping shots of ALF commandeering fighter jets and spaceships in the film’s most cinematic moments.
An Imperfect Yet Satisfying Sendoff
As a TV movie, Project: ALF lacks big set pieces or effects budget. The Florida lab sets look chintzy, while a bomb subplot feels contrived. Supporting military characters lean generic, with Gilbert Milfoil flirting with over-the-top villainy. Budgetary constraints hinder the storytelling at times.
Yet these shortcomings fade amid the palpable joy of reuniting with old friends. Savoring ALF’s antics one last time should delight devotees. While the series arguably deserved a stronger big-screen farewell, this heartfelt TV movie got the job done.
Project: ALF’s light sci-fi trappings, kid-friendly humor and family values make it ideal viewing for all ages. New fans may find it corny, but it should provide smiles and nostalgia for Gen Xers and Millennials who grew up watching ALF. Sometimes a sentimental coda beats no conclusion at all.
Special Features Take Fans Behind the Scenes
Now on Blu-ray, Project: ALF lets viewers revisit the classic character in HD. Paul Fusco provides a new introduction reflecting on ALF’s legacy. The disc also contains vintage behind-the-scenes featurettes that are fascinating time capsules.
Seeing the puppeteers work their magic through ALF’s animatronic facial expressions reveals the craft behind his illusion of life. It’s also amusing to witness the human actors patiently play off their furry costar. These features provide a nostalgic peek behind the curtain.
Rounding out the package are storyboards, TV spots and the original trailer. These bonuses should delight ALF completists and ’90s TV aficionados eager to revisit a bygone era of family sci-fi. Project: ALF caps off the release as a sitcom blast from the past worthy of appreciation.
Project: ALF — One Final Treat for Fans
I appreciate the hell out of what Liberation Hall has been bringing to DVD and Blu-ray recently. These deep dives into television history are an attempt to save those movies that fall between the cracks. For younger viewers, this won’t mean much. However, it means something to fans of long dead series wanting to get a taste of old memories.
If you are of a certain age, it’s easy to remember how huge ALF was…but this movie doesn’t make it easier to sell to young people. Well, there are teenagers that will keep making jokes about his favorite meal.
While failing to spawn a sci-fi franchise or follow-up, Project: ALF nonetheless succeeds as a nostalgic victory lap. It fondly celebrates the titular alien who occupied a special place in pop culture for nearly a decade. This TV movie sends him off with the grace note loyal viewers desired.
Is Project: ALF an all-time classic? No, but it aims for modest crowd-pleasing versus big spectacle, an endearing swan song versus a flashy blowout. Sometimes completing a journey is more important than an ambitious destination. For ALF fans, this imperfect finale still hits the spot.
Project: ALF is now available on Blu-ray!
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