Emotion of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ in ‘Earth to Echo’

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CHICAGO – Oh those meddling kids, they can’t keep their noses out of anything, and for one lost space alien that’s a good thing. “Earth to Echo” is a wonderfully mastered combination of “found footage” composition and a Spielbergian-style encounter with an extra-terrestrial.

This is an adventure aimed at the kids, but with enough heart, social commentary and nostalgia to satisfy their adult companions. It is the remarkable feature film debut of Dave Green, and the fact that it’s opening on a major holiday weekend speaks volumes for its subject matter and quality of the film. Green combines the camaraderie of intense childhood friendships with the modern technology they use today to pursue their E.T., and all of the clues make sense as they go about their discovery. For adult audiences, it’s about the long lost neighborhoods as it all goes away, and the wonder of looking at a circumstance through the prism of childhood wonder.

Tuck (Brian “Astro” Bradley), Alex (Teo Halm) and Munch (Reese Hartwig) are best buddies in a comfortable American neighborhood. Everything changes when a highway construction project means that all the houses are sold and everyone has to move away. Two days before this is to happen, the trio of boys start receiving signals on their mobile phones. So to celebrate their last night together, they decide to investigate, with Tuck recording every moment on his various video devices.

Earth to Echo
Anybody Out There? The Gang Contemplates Their Fate in ‘Earth to Echo’
Photo credit: Relativity Media

The signal brings them to the middle of an off-the-beaten-path field, where they find a pod. The pod is something strange, and starts to emit beeps and more signals, which lead the boys to find the sum of its various parts. One of the stops is at the home of their school mate Emma (Ella Wahlestedt), and she joins the pursuit. The pod contains an alien they call Echo, and the government is interested in finding both the kids and their adopted new friend.

There is a sense of wonder in the film that is endearing, as director Green seeks to elicit the feelings of the great 1980s adventures like “E.T.,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Goonies.” The friendships of the kids are also charming, as is their patience with the more socially awkward Munch (there is always one in the group that wants everybody to turn back). And Henry Gayden’s script didn’t shy away from the menace of the government. Their pursuit of the kids becomes as frightening as the mystery of Echo.

The design of the film is appropriate to now, and mixes perfectly with the nostalgia feeling of the overall story. Mobile phones are finally put to use for something substantial, and the design of Echo himself is “Wall-E” meets the Golden Owl from “Clash of the Titans.” Green was able to get real emotion out of this design, and a crazy sense of awe – the kind that was felt in those films of yesteryear – with his use of special effects.

Their are so many fun references to those films of yesteryear, including some that are unexpected – let’s just say fans of “Die Hard” are in for a nice laugh. But this just isn’t a nostalgia fest, the film works on its own and uses modernity as a key element to solve the mystery. It also shows the blindness of what happens when we grow up, after we lose the ability and desire to question a piece of metal sending signals, preferring that the government investigate it – and like so many other mysteries – lock it away.

Teo Halm
Teo Halm as Alex in ‘Earth to Echo’
Photo credit: Relativity Media

There are some predictable scenes and stuff that doesn’t work – some of the Echo parts are in a tavern, for example, with patrons who seem to not care that stuff starts flying around – but that’s a minor complaint in the journey of wonder for the kids in the film, and the audience who experiences it. “Earth to Echo” is the “anti-Transformers,” and will satisfy the holiday weekend movie choice for – as they say – the whole family.

Nothing is like the tingle of that air conditioned popcorn smell as you enter the movie theater during the summer. It’s about that feeling of anticipation, and “Earth to Echo” is there to follow through and second that emotion.

“Earth to Echo” opens everywhere on July 2nd. Featuring Teo Halm, Reese Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt and Brian “Astro” Bradley. Screenplay by Henry Gayden. Directed by Dave Green. Rated “PG

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2014 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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