Greetings,
So, it's 2015, and we all know what that means - it's been 25 years since the ending of one of the greatest shows of the 80's, maybe of all time, ALF! In my opinion. Of course, to say it ended is not necessarily accurate. It just sort of...stopped. Yeah, I've seen characters just fall off of shows or movies, but this is one of the rare times when a show fell off of itself. And if you've seen the final episode of ALF, you'll know what I'm talking about. Spoilers, by the way. The last episode consisted of ALF about to be picked up via spaceship by some of his old Melmacian friends, but he is suddenly surrounded by the Alien Task Force and he is abandoned. And then, it ends. I think there may have been a "To Be Continued" credit, but we never really got a continuation. Or we didn't until six years later with the TV movie Project: ALF. And off we go.
Project: ALF aired in 1996, as a way to, I suppose, appease the fans that wanted to find out what happened to ALF, as well as the Tanner family. Yeah, that was some good exposition telling us what happened to the Tanners. They're not in the movie. At all. And that kind of sucks. But we do get ALF, of course, and it turns out that he has been held for those six years having tests run on him and being researched. Nothing too bad, though. In fact, he kind of runs this government facility the same way he ran the house he lived in for four years. Whether the people who were actually in charge approve of that or not. Honestly, the beginning, where ALF is interacting/annoying the workers is kind of the best part. We also find out that he colors his hair...fur...whatever. Burnt Sienna is his color off choice, by the way, in case you wanted to know for personal styling or makeover reasons.
Anyway, the plot revolves around the fact that the Alien Task Force wants to terminate the project that concerns ALF, which would include terminating the subject of said project. So, in order to save ALF's life, two officers, Major Melissa Hill and Captain Rick Mullican, played by Jensen Dagget and William O'Malley, pretty much kidnap him. Relax, it's for the greater good. Their plan is to take him to the home of a very rich man, named Dexter Moyers played by Miguel Ferrer. All the while, the Alien Task Force is on the search for them, led by Col. Gilbert Milfoil, played by - wait for it - Martin Sheen. No, I'm not kidding. And his character has this "tragic" backstory, which, as he tells it, I can't figure out if he's wanting us to take it seriously or if he's taking it seriously in a way that's supposed to be funny. I pray for the latter, which I think is really what they were going for. Anyway, hijinks ensue, but sadly, none that are as entertaining as the ones that we witnessed in the series. Not too bad, though. The end.
True, as a whole, there is not much to this movie. It certainly is not the ending that fans were hoping for. However, it does have its moments. As far as I can remember, anyway, since it's been a very long while since I've seen this. Also, the cast doesn't suck, by any means. Besides the people I mentioned, who were actually pretty good, it also has some great cameos from Beverly Archer, Charles Robinson, Ray Walston and Ed Begley, Jr. Good times, indeed.
So, if you are a fan of ALF, and if you can find this thing, I certainly won't discourage you from checking it out. Like I said, it's nowhere near what we wanted as a way for the series to end, but Project: ALF is...fine. I suppose. Nothing to jump up and down about, but you might get some enjoyment out of it. Honestly, I did.
And please tell me that I am not the only person on the internet celebrating the 25th anniversary of ALF's ending. Well, I guess next year is the 30th anniversary of when he first showed up. I wonder if anyone will do anything. Like, perhaps, a feature film for the big screen. Take it, Guillermo del Toro!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
