Kinda works as a homage only

Rating: 4/10 (20 June 2011)

Just know going in that there is absolutely nothing original in Super 8, nothing whatsoever unless this is the first movie you've ever seen. I read that JJ Abrams guarded the secret of the movie's plot like a classified Homeland Security document. Um, OK. But that secret is a complete letdown if you've seen three or more of the following movies this borrows heavily from: ET, Goonies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, Poltergeist (yes, lots of Spielberg here), Alien, Aliens, Eight Legged Freaks, Jeepers Creepers, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and many, many others too numerous to mention here.
I want to give the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt and say this is an homage to other far superior Science Fiction flicks, but the huge budget and clunky storyline lean more towards a derivative mishmash. Still, there are some semi-decent scenes and the young boy actor and Elle Fanning do a fine job with their stories. It's just when they come together with their contrived pre-adolescent romance that the chemistry fizzles like the 80's candy Pop Rocks abundant in the era this movie supposedly takes place in. But the music choices are great as are the 80's throwback costumes and setting.
The action drags along, and by the end I gave it a should shrug and a "meh." There are worse ways to spend a weekend day and $15, though.