Mac and Me
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MAC and Me
Plot
A wheelchair-bound boy helps to reunite an earthbound alien with its extraterrestrial family in this shameless rip-off of Steven Spielberg's E.T.. Separated from his parents shortly after arriving on planet Earth, a Mysterious Alien Creature (MAC) quickly strikes up a friendship with lonely Eric Cruise (former Easter Seals spokesman Jade Calegory). New to town and in need of a pal after losing his father, Eric discovers just how amazing the universe can be when mischievous MAC takes him on the adventure of a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, RoviCast
- Jade Calegory - Eric Cruise
- Christine Ebersole - Janet Cruise
- Jonathan Ward - Michael Cruise
- Tina Caspary - Courtney
- Lauren Stanley - Debbie
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| M3: Rough An' Ready (2004 Film), M/W/F Music Video One (1990 Film) | |
| MAGICFRANK's Lessons in Magic: More Magic 4 Fun (2005 Film), MAT Review (1987 Film) |
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Mac and Me
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Mac and Me
| Mac and Me | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Stewart Raffill |
| Produced by | R.J. Louis Mark Damon William B. Kerr |
| Written by | Stewart Raffill Steve Feke |
| Starring | Jade Calegory Lauren Stanley Christine Ebersole Jonathan Ward Katrina Caspary |
| Music by | Alan Silvestri |
| Cinematography | Nick McLean |
| Editing by | Tom Walls |
| Studio | Vision International New Star Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures Home Video: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $13,000,000 |
| Box office | $6,424,112 |
Mac and Me is a 1988 sci-fi fantasy film co-written (with Steve Feke) and directed by Stewart Raffill about a "Mysterious Alien Creature" (MAC) that escapes from nefarious NASA agents and is befriended by a young boy who uses a wheelchair. Together, they try to find MAC's family, from whom he has been separated. The film stars Jade Calegory (in his only film appearance), Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Ward, Katrina Caspary and Lauren Stanley. It is also Jennifer Aniston's debut film (playing an uncredited role as an extra).
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Contents
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Plot
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This section requires expansion. |
Cast
- Jade Calegory as Eric Cruise[1]
- Christine Ebersole as Janet Cruise
- Jonathan Ward as Michael Cruise
- Katrina Caspary as Courtney
- Lauren Stanley as Debbie
- Vinnie Torrente as Mitford
- Martin West as Wickett
- Ivan J. Rado as Zimmerman
- Danny Cooksey as Jack Jr.
- Laura Waterbury as Linda
Product placement
The film is known for its numerous and blatant product placements, including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Skittles and Sears.[2] The main character's name, Mac, is proclaimed by the main character to mean "Mysterious Alien Creature." The only foods the alien requires are Coke and Skittles. A five 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".[3] However, according to Seth Stevenson, "there was no quid pro quo between the filmmakers and these companies."[4]
Box office and shelved sequel
Mac and Me, distributed by Orion Pictures, grossed $6,424,112 in the United States.[5]
The film was heavily criticized for being, among other things, similar to other films of the day, most notably E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.[6][7]
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.
Reception
It has been labeled one of the worst films ever made by Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds a 0% rating[8], mainly due to people calling it a product placement inducement, and a rip off of the movie E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (whose original working title, incidentally, was E.T. and Me). Mac and Me was also referenced in the 2011 film Paul, which was also about aliens.[9]
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 would show a clip of the wheelchair-using Eric (replaced by a dummy) falling off a cliff, instead of showing clips from the actual film Rudd was there to promote. Most recently, Rudd continued the gag on O'Brien's latest TV show, Conan.[10]
Awards and nominations
- 1988 Golden Raspberry Awards
- Worst New Star (Ronald McDonald)
- Worst Director (Stewart Raffill)
- Worst Picture (R.J. Louis) (nominated)
- Worst Screenplay (Stewart Raffill and Steve Feke) (nominated)
- 1988 Young Artist Award
- Best Family Animation or Fantasy Motion Picture (nominated)
- Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy (Jade Calegory) (nominated)
- Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy (Tina Caspary) (nominated)
- Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy (Lauren Stanley) (nominated)
References
- ^ "When he tires of answering questions about why he's in a wheelchair, the 7th-grader simply dead-pans: 'Vietnam.' : Out-of-This-World Career Still in Cards for 'Mac and Me' Star". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-23/entertainment/ca-1118_1_acting-career. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
- ^ "Review/Film; 'MAC and Me,' Family From a Distant Planet". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE1DF113FF930A2575BC0A96E948260. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (2003). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 2004. Signet. ISBN 0-451-20940-0.
- ^ Stevenson, Seth (2007-06-11). "Vitaminwater, Everywhere: Why is David Ortiz shilling for the frou-frou beverage?". Slate. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/ad_report_card/2007/06/vitaminwater_everywhere.single.html.
- ^ Mac and Me at Box Office Mojo
- ^ "Movie Review Mac and Me Takes a Big McBite Out of E.T.". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-15/entertainment/ca-300_1_big-mac. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ "Review/Film; 'MAC and Me,' Family From a Distant Planet". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE1DF113FF930A2575BC0A96E948260. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ Mac and Me at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ "Movies; Branded Into the Scenery; Commentary: Advertising is so much a part of life that it's understandable to find familiar products in films. But sometimes it goes too far.". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1999/aug/29/entertainment/ca-4591/3. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ YouTube: MAC AND ME (1988) - infamous wheelchair scene
External links
- Mac and Me at the Internet Movie Database
- Mac and Me at Box Office Mojo
- Mac and Me at Rotten Tomatoes
- Review at Somethingawful.com
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