Super 8

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

Golden boy J.J. Abrams' Super 8 is Spielbergian in nearly every conceivable way. It comes as no surprise that Abrams is Spielberg's chosen one, or grand successor. With Super 8 he proves not only why he so versatile, Abrams also unleashes his inner Spielberg for the world to enjoy. Without question, Spielberg once led a movie revolution that changed the way films are viewed and allowed parents to welcome pictures into their homes for their entire families. Abrams has recreated a world from the late 70s/early 80s that is equal measurements nostalgic, frightening, and exploratory. Although both myself and my guest for the screening cannot figure out why this film is entitled Super 8 (as we counted only 6 featured children), I will endeavor to convey the highlights of the story and provide an evaluation. Hint, hint, this is a fun feature family film, alliteration notwithstanding!

Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) is an impressionable teenager. Four months ago his mother died in a tragic factory accident while working overtime to fill in for a drunken employee. The only possession the authorities recovered is a beautiful locket that Joe wears everywhere and protects with great care. In lieu of his mother's kindness, his grieving but outwardly emotionless father is filling in as the protector-in-chief. Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler) is deputy sheriff in Lillian, Ohio. He is an excellent officer but is still figuring out how to be a good father to his forlorn son. Fortunately, Joe is popular. He has a wonderful collection of friends, each with their own rich personality. His best friend since kindergarten is Charles (Riley Griffiths). Charles' family welcomes Joe into their home any time and with good reason. Regrettably, Charles is ultra-demanding/bossy, but he is trying to protect his friend. Martin (Gabriel Basso) is a comical teen with great acting skills despite his youthful timidity. Preston (Zach Mills) is a member of the gang although he is a total fraidy-cat. Cary (Ryan Lee) is the resident firecracker specialist. He is hilariously addicted to pyromaniacal effects. The last member of the crew, and arguably the most important is Alice (Dakota Fanning's sister Elle).

The group of best friends is making a movie about zombies and romance when disaster strikes. Their honors biology teacher Dr. Woodward (Glynn Turman) drives off a ledge and crashes into a roaring air force freight train. Somehow their teacher survives this horrific crash. The train cars zigzag as they are derailed and metallic debris scatters ubiquitously, nearly decapitating the youths. Everyone survives, as does Charles' camera (Charles is vehemently trying to win a film award against slightly older student directors), but the explosions and the derailment prove psychologically horrific for the teens. When they try to rescue their teacher, he advises them to never mention the accident to anyone and to run away as fast as they can. It turns out the air force is closely guarding a secret about the train's manifest.

Shortly thereafter strange occurrences begin in the town. The air force for all intents and purposes establishes martial law, and neutralizes any resistance, including Joe's father Deputy Lamb. Onboard the train had been thousands of Rubik's cube shaped objects with special but unforeseeable powers. The teens go on with making their movie, and in the process Alice and Joe begin to develop feelings for each other. They have both been impacted by the loss of their mothers and they are sweethearts. As the teens begin suspecting something has gone terribly wrong, the town begins to descend into a maelstrom of chaos. The electricity is turned off, the dogs flee (not flea) to surrounding counties, and the people are becoming antsy. Many suspect a Soviet invasion, but few are ready to admit to an alien monster being the culprit.

Dr. Woodward's intent was to free the rabid but sensitive alien along with his radioactive devices. The alien is psychic but only to the touch. The air force has kept him imprisoned and tried to unlock the secret of his extra-terrestrial technology. The air force will do anything, silence anyone, and commandeer any town to protect their chattel. All the while, Joe and Alice are under strict orders to stay away from one another as their parents are also guarding a terrible secret that could shatter both youths to pieces.

I seldom, if ever, read other critics' reviews as the very process would inherently poison my own and destroy any semblance of originality I can manufacture. Still, I could not help but read a tagline from a newspaper critic that labeled Super 8 an "ersatz" film, meaning that it is a cheap imitation of an original. While the alien's ironic resemblance to E.T. or to Predator lends slight credence to that characterization I could not disagree more. Harkening back to the 70s and 80s is a breath of fresh air amidst a field of festering films focusing on profanity, vulgarity and tawdry sexuality. The films I enjoy most are full of hair-raising terrors, nostalgic family moments, coming-of-age stories, and adventurousness. Abrams deftly borrows concepts and themes from Spielberg (with whom he concocted the primary framework for this film) and utilizes his own exciting style to bring us a new age classic that the entire family may watch together. Everyone will enjoy some aspect of this motion picture as there is an enormous volume of different features to appreciate. Elle Fanning is going to be a huge star. She is a natural actress and quite pretty to boot. This summer blockbuster season is not only unrelenting, it is also proving to be surprisingly enjoyable.