A Journey Beyond Suburbia: Alf’s Spirited Comeback

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MOVIE REVIEW
Project: ALF
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Genre: Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 1996, 2023 Liberation Hall Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director(s): Dick Lowry
Writer(s): Tom Patchett, Paul Fusco
Cast: Miguel Ferrer, William O'Leary, Jensen Daggett, Scott Michael Campbell, Beverly Archer, Charles Robinson, John Schuck
Where To Watch: available June 13, 2023; pre-order now here www.mvdshop.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: We're back in the company of our favorite alien from planet Melmac, Alf, in the feature-length flick PROJECT: ALF, bringing the furry friend back on the radar six years after his sitcom exploits. Shedding his suburban world, Alf (Alien Life Form) now resides (by choice?) within the austere walls of Edmonds Air Force Base. But all is not calm in his new abode, as a sinister plan by the Alien Task Force (ATF) is underway to erase our lovable Melmacian from existence.

This might not be your cup of tea if you didn’t grow up on the TV series ALF. I loved the series, so this was a nostalgic ride for me. Even though this was initially released as a TV movie in 1996, I hadn’t seen it until sitting down to watch this surprisingly high-quality Blu-ray! If you liked ALF as a child or are a fan of late 90s made-for-TV movies, this will be right up your alley. I must warn you that after watching this, I’m pretty sure Alf was in the future, though! With oddly specific references about the Fox TV station and Bill Cosby (they were just coincidences but interesting to see how things have aged.)

True to character, rather than cowering in fear, Alf has made himself quite at home under the scrutinizing eyes of the government. This peace, however, proves short-lived. A shadowy plot meticulously crafted by the head of the ATF sets the stage for a pulsating, action-packed narrative. As the plot thickens, two scientists from the Air Force, Major Melissa Hill (Jensen Daggett) and Captain Rick Mullican (William O'Leary), stumble upon the dark conspiracy. Equipped with knowledge and the motivation to save Alf, the duo initiates an impromptu rescue operation, resulting in amusing mishaps. In the ensuing chaos, Alf, with his unique charm, winds up in an unlikely setting – the 'Kitty Kat Lounge,' a strip club. If you’re familiar with the series, you can connect the dots and see the amusements that would transpire.

As the series events spiral, things go from bad to worse for Alf, but in true TV fashion, our furry friend from Melmac devises a plan to avoid the tragedy. Meanwhile, within the confines of the Air Force Base, Colonel Gilbert Milfoil, played by Martin Sheen, brings his vendetta against Alf into play. Blaming Alf for his mother's mental collapse following an alleged alien abduction, he uses his escape as leverage to advocate for a grim potential outcome. As events come full circle, the film ends optimistically.

Martin Sheen's performance as the revenge-hungry military officer brings an element of humor to PROJECT: ALF. However, the lack of the majority of the cast from the show is noticeable and doesn’t give the film the same charm that the series had (outside of Alf and Beverly Archer, no one else returns.)

PROJECT: ALF delivers a healthy dose of humor and adventure, carrying forward Alf's journey from where the TV series left off. It was very much a late 90s made-for-TV movie, so don’t expect any crazy CGI, but you can tell there was a noticeable attention to make things more production ready for the extended runtime. There’s a slightly different tone to the entire experience, but if you think about it, any children that grew up with Alf would have been six years older at that point, too, so it makes sense.

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[photo courtesy of LIBERATION HALL/MVD ENTERTAINMENT]