Enjoyable but unoriginal

Rating: Null/10 (12 August 2011)

I came out of Super 8 rather puzzled. On one hand, I enjoyed it hugely. On the other, there wasn't a single moment which I hadn't already seen elsewhere. Much of it seems to have been cobbled together from Spielberg's back catalogue, but huge numbers of other movies have been cannibalised, too (I started listing the movies it derives material from, and stopped when I got to 15 without drawing breath). My mind insists on telling me that I shouldn't have enjoyed it quite so much, because it brings literally nothing new to the table. Nothing at all. And yet I did - a lot - and, in the end, that's all that really matters.
All the set pieces work well (especially the train crash) and the effects are flawless. The enjoyable script by director JJ Abrams stitches together all the requisite elements. and structures the emotional and action parts of the film so that they intertwine and develop in a satisfying way.
At the heart of the film are heartwarming performances from the young cast, particularly Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning as two youngsters, both of whom have troubled elements in their makeup. There is good chemistry between the cast, especially (and necessarily) between Courtney and Fanning. Elle Fanning appears to be as talented as sister Dakota, and has a definite edge over her in the looks department.
As a minor nitpick, I'm not sure the use by youngsters of the word "totally" was quite as ubiquitous at the time the film is set as it is made out to be here (in fact, I'm quite sure it totally wasn't).
And, as a major nitpick, there is one use of the F word. Quite frankly, I thought it was entirely unnecessary and served only to alienate.