FILM

USA 2011 111 mins Dir: JJ Abrams Starring: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Zach Mills, Riley Griffiths, Gabriel Basso, Ron Eldard

It's not hard to see what appealed to producer Steven Spielberg about writer/director JJ Abrams' follow-up to his excellent 'reboot' of 'Star Trek'. A lovingly created, impeccably liberal period science fiction thriller steeped in nostalgia and sentimentality, with two (count 'em!) lots of Parent Ishoos to be resolved, it's the kind of thing Spielberg might have directed himself - had he grown up in the late '70s and developed an appetite for Michael Bay-style explosions. There's plenty to admire and enjoy in what might be crudely characterised as 'ET' meets 'The Goonies' via 'The Thing', although those with a low tolerance of excessive sentimentality may wish to excuse themselves prior to the most crushingly literal 'letting go' moment in cinema history during the big climax.

It's 1979. We know this because of the soundtrack (ELO, The Cars, Blondie, etc), references to the Sony Walkman, people using walkie-talkies rather than mobile phones, and the fact that podgy, intense 12-year-old auteur Charles (Griffiths) is shooting his zombie movie on Super 8 with his school pals. Down in smalltown Ohio, these mini-Romeros are particularly excited tonight because they've lured a real, actual girl, 14-year-old Alice (Elle Fanning, demonstrating once again that she's the most talented of the Fanning siblings), to take a role in their film. Our hero, troubled, sensitive Joe Lamb (Courtney) - whose mom just perished in a grisly industrial accident and dad, Jack (Chandler), is the local Deputy Sheriff - immediately falls for Alice despite the complicated history between their two families. But before any snogging can take place, they witness a spectacular derailment after a truck mounts the track and speeds into an oncoming train. "Do not speak of this or else you and your parents will die!" counsels the driver of the truck, whom they find amid the wreckage. But then Weird Shit starts to happen as the military move in to clear up the mess.

The early scenes work best, with their warm 'Stand By Me'-esque vibe and sweetly characterised kids. But although the young cast give excellent performances, the seeds of later emotional developments are being all-too-obviously sown. This is as much a homage to Spielberg himself as to classic monster movies; only a second-half capitulation to CGI action reminds us that it's 2011. (Robin Askew)

website www.super8-movie.com/

Opens: August 5

Copyright Robin Askew 2011