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Mac and Me

 
Movies:

MAC and Me

  • Director: Stewart Raffill
  • AMG Rating: star
  • Genre: Children's/Family
  • Movie Type: Children's Fantasy, Sci-Fi Comedy
  • Themes: Benign Aliens, Space Travel
  • Main Cast: Jade Calegory, Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Ward, Tina Caspary, Lauren Stanley
  • Release Year: 1988
  • Country: US
  • Run Time: 94 minutes
  • MPAA Rating: PG

Plot

This sci-fi tearjerker has the distinction of being one of the most obviously commercial films ever made with constant plugs for MacDonalds, Coca-Cola companies, candy and other products. These not so subtle endorsements are woven into the story of a wheel-chair bound boy and the stranded alien MAC (not as in "Big" but rather Mysterious Alien Creature) who become friends and help each other with their family problems. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Cast

  • Jade Calegory - Eric Cruise
  • Christine Ebersole - Janet Cruise
  • Jonathan Ward - Michael Cruise
  • Tina Caspary - Courtney
  • Lauren Stanley - Debbie
Gary Brockette - Doctor; Danny Cooksey - Jack, Jr.; Andrew Divoff - Policeman; Barbara Allyne Bennet - Scientist; Buckley Norris - Highway Man; Jack Ong - Technician; Ivan Jorge Rado - Zimmerman; J. Jay Saunders - Judge; Jack David Walker - Mars Father; Laura Waterbury - Linda; Martin West - Wickett; George "Buck" Flower - Security Guard; Richard Bravo - Mover; Richard Wright - Elrod; Sterling Swanson - Police Captain; Vinnie Torrente - Mitford; Sherri Stone Butler - Checkout Girl; Sheila Chambers - Girl in Car; Joseph Chapman - Doctor; Alyce Coleman - Girl in Car; John Curtin - Control Room Chief; James C. Duke - Sears Store Manager; Jack Eiseman - Splatter Car Driver; Tom Fuccello - Mr. Ryan; Ernie Fuentes - Store Manager; Michael Geary - Technician; Heather Green - Mars Sister; J.D. Hall - Mover; Roger Hampton - Water & Power Man; Dixon Harding - Kid; Christopher Law - Air Force Major; Mayah McCoy - Dancing Double for Mac; Ronald McDonald - Himself; Elena Moure - Mars Mother; Lowell Sexton - Counter Man; Sean Simmons - Sheriff's Deputy; Bud Ekins - Gardner; Ray Forchion - Police Officer #1; John Ward

Credit

Ruben A. Aquino - Art Director, Caro Jones - Casting, Marla Blakey - Choreography, Richard Bruno - Costume Designer, Arlene Encell - Costume Designer, Clifford C. Coleman - First Assistant Director, Stewart Raffill - Director, Tom Walls - Editor, Mark Damon - Executive Producer, William B. Kerr - Executive Producer, Alan Silvestri - Composer (Music Score), Margaret Elliott - Makeup, Edouard Henriques III - Makeup, John M. Elliott, Jr. - Makeup, Michael D. O'Shea - Camera Operator, W. Stewart Campbell - Production Designer, Nick McLean - Cinematographer, William B. Kerr - Production Manager, R.J. Louis - Producer, John Anderson - Set Designer, Martin Becker - Special Effects, Chris Burton - Special Effects, Dennis Dion - Special Effects, Steve Feke - Screenwriter, Stewart Raffill - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

*batteries not included; Explorers; The Goonies; Gremlins; The Neverending Story; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie; Barney's Great Adventure; Pokemon the Movie: 2000; Munchie; CJ7
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Wikipedia: Mac and Me
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Mac and Me

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Stewart Raffill
Produced by Mark Damon executive producer
William B. Kerr executive producer
R.J. Louis producer
Written by Stewart Raffill
Steve Feke
Starring Jade Calegory
Christine Ebersole
Jonathan Ward
Katrina Caspary
Lauren Stanley
Luke Strotz
Music by Alan Silvestri
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release date(s) August 12, 1988
Running time 95 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Mac and Me is a 1988 family film about a disabled boy and an extraterrestrial juvenile. The decision to create it was based largely on the success of E.T. (1982). The title itself, Mac and Me, comes from the working title for E.T.E.T. and Me.[1]

Contents

Plot

A Mysterious Alien Creature (MAC) who has escaped from nefarious NASA agents is befriended by a young boy in a wheelchair. Together, they try to find MAC's family, from whom he has been separated.

Product placement

The film is known for its numerous and blatant product placements, including Coca-Cola, Skittles, Sears and McDonald's to name a few. The main character's name, Mac, is a reference to McDonald's Big Mac sandwich. The only food the aliens require are Coke and Skittles. A ten-minute-long impromptu dance number, featuring Ronald McDonald, takes place in a McDonald's franchise which led Leonard Maltin to call the film "more like a TV commercial than a movie".[2] However, according to Seth Stevenson, "there was no quid pro quo between the filmmakers and these companies."[3] In spite of the latter statement, during the scene where Mac is drinking a Coca-Cola, director Stewart Raffill comically holds up four $100 bills in the background.

Box office and shelved sequel

Mac and Me, produced by Vision International and New Star Entertainment and distributed by Orion Pictures grossed $5,935,269 in the United States.

The film ends with a freeze frame and the words "We'll be back!" superimposed, but after abysmal reviews and dismal box office returns, the planned sequel was shelved.

Cult following

Despite being labeled one of the worst movies ever by Rotten Tomatoes (where it holds a 0% rating), Mac and Me has gained a cult following, due in large part to its unintentionally humorous low production values. One example is the poor sound dubbing that takes place during the Sears scene while Eric's mother is riding the escalator: her line is dubbed, "Excuse me. I'll be right back," however, her mouth says the dialogue line "Excuse me, I'll be back in a minute." Another example involves the alien character, Mac, who doesn't walk, but is instead strapped to a rolling cart that is never shown to the audience. The main character's inability to move without the audible sound of wheels in motion adds to the film's low-budget appearance. In addition, there are many other sloppy technical and continuity filming errors throughout the movie.[4]

Running gag on Conan O'Brien

The film has gained a measure of notoriety thanks to actor Paul Rudd. As part of a running gag during Rudd's appearances on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, he frequently shows a clip of the wheelchair-bound Eric (Jade Calegory) flying off a cliff while Mac watches on, instead of showing clips from the actual movie Rudd is there to promote.[5] In the clip of the cliff scene Calegory's part was taken by a mannequin. Later chase scenes that show him skitching appear to have been done by Calegory himself.

Awards and nominations

1988 Golden Raspberry Awards

Four Nominations:

1989 Young Artist Award

Four Nominations:

  • Best Family Animation or Fantasy Motion Picture
  • Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy (Jade Calegory)
  • Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy (Tina Caspary)
  • Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy (Lauren Stanley)

References

External links


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Copyrights:

Movies. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Movie Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mac and Me" Read more