An affectionate homage

Rating: 9/10 (5 June 2012)

For me, Super 8 is the film of 2011. Let me explain why. JJ Abram's movie is presented, more or less, as an affectionate homage to those 80's whimsical fantasies that Steven Spielberg either directed or produced. Take some E.T. add a little Goonies then stir in Close Encounters and maybe a tiny bit of Poltergeist and you get is a warm, heartfelt and engaging movie. The main character Joe {Joel Courtney} is nicely portrayed as the average kid, a little shy maybe and as the film opens he is coming to terms with the death of his mother and then re-establishing a relationship with his father, the local deputy. There's an early teen crush on a local girl and of course his small circle of friends who gather to make amateur horror films. It's as they are shooting their latest production, again an affectionate homage, this time George Romero, that they witness a terrible train crash and so a mystery begins. The production teams' exhaustive search for the right cast has paid real dividends especially with the kids as they are excellent which isn't normal for a Hollywood feature. They're relaxed, likable and not in any way pretentious or emotionless. Abram's control of tension and suspense is superb, when this is combined with well realised set pieces it makes for a journey that is well worth the ride. Yes its nostalgic, yes there are elements that we may have seen before but when you take into account summer movies over the last few years it's good to see one that doesn't have an over inflated ego. More importantly it's fun.