Mac and Me Blu-ray Review

Shout Factory's AVC encoded presentation of "Mac and Me" on Blu-ray, with a 1.84:1 aspect ratio, offers a commendable effort to rejuvenate the film's visual appeal. Utilizing an older scan, the video quality maintains a decent level of detail, although slight softness occasionally undercuts the sharpness. The textures, particularly on the alien skin and costumes, are well-maintained, showcasing a curious blend of practical effects and modest production scale. Costumes appear adequately fibrous, and the film's varied locations offer a satisfactory sense of depth. Notably, interior scenes, such as the iconic McDonald's dance segment, are presented in detail rich enough to spot cameo appearances with ease.

The color palette benefits from well-defined primaries that enhance clothing and signage, contributing to a vibrant suburban Californian landscape. Skin tones, both human and alien, appear true to life. Delineation throughout the presentation is consistent, firmly delineating figures against their backgrounds. The condition of the film source itself is impressive, with minimal signs of wear. However, a noticeable issue arises in the opening sequence set on a distant alien planet, where solarization effects intermittently distort the image—a flaw likely inherent to the original production rather than the Blu-ray transfer. Overall, while not without its imperfections, this Blu-ray release breathes new visual life into "Mac and Me," providing an engaging viewing experience for both new and nostalgic audiences.

The audio presentation of "Mac and Me" on Shout! Factory's Collector’s Edition Blu-ray offers a commendable 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix that delivers a steady and clear listening experience. The soundtrack selections maintain their poppy beats and sharp instrumentation, contributing to an engaging auditory environment. Film scoring is presented with clarity and precision, enabling a faithful reproduction of the film's original soundscape. Dialogue exchanges are well-defined, accommodating both child and adult voices with balance and coherence. Additionally, the alien characters' distinct whistling and chirping noises are handled effectively, maintaining their tonal integrity without any distortion.

Though the stereo experience is not particularly immersive, the essential elements come through with clarity. The sound effects, while basic, are communicative and contribute to the overall atmosphere of group activities within scenes. Dialogue tracks, alien sounds, and musical scores possess decent heft, ensuring they are discernible and impactful. The optional English SDH subtitles further enhance accessibility. Overall, the audio performance is solid, though opportunities for a more immersive mix could have provided an even richer experience.

The extras for the Blu-ray release of "Mac and Me" offer a comprehensive look into the film's production through candid interviews and commentary. Director Stewart Raffill and film historian Marc Edward Heuck provide an insightful commentary, highlighting Raffill’s on-the-fly script creation due to initial production challenges. The feature “That Little Mac in the Sky” provides a deeper dive with Raffill elaborating on casting choices, budgetary constraints, and the technical aspects of puppetry and costume work. Composer Alan Silvestri’s early involvement is also touched upon. Allee Willis discusses her experiences related to the film’s music in “Down to Earth,” offering a brief but enlightening perspective. Rounding out the features are a still gallery, vintage TV spots, and both theatrical and home video trailers.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary: Features co-writer/director Stewart Raffill and film historian Marc Edward Heuck.
• That Little Mac in the Sky: Director Raffill discusses the production's history and technical aspects.
• Down to Earth: Songwriter Allee Willis shares her involvement and anecdotes.
• Still Gallery: A collection of film stills, publicity shots, and BTS pictures.
• TV Spots: Includes four different marketing approaches.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original theater preview.
• Home Video Trailer: Original home video preview.

Stewart Raffill’s 1988 film "Mac and Me" is widely recognized as a blatant attempt to capitalize on the success of 1982’s "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial". The movie follows a family of aliens sucked into a NASA probe and brought to Earth, where the youngest, MAC, gets separated from his family. MAC eventually encounters Eric (Jade Calegory), a physically disabled boy who helps the little alien in his quest to reunite with his family, all the while dodging government agents. Despite its earnest attempt to replicate the heartwarming dynamic seen in "E.T.", "Mac and Me" falls short on multiple fronts due to poor execution and design.

The creature design for MAC and his family is notably awkward. The aliens' limited mobility and peculiar features—like their blank stares and bizarrely designed mouths—make it difficult for audiences to empathize with them. Rather than softening these overtly crude designs, Raffill leans into them, which detracts significantly from the intended emotional core of the film. MAC, for instance, is supposed to be a magically endowed alien with powers such as electrical control and familial connection. However, the lifeless puppetry undermines those abilities, rendering many of the character's actions meaningless and unengaging.

The film features several bizarre sequences, including an out-of-place McDonald’s dance number, complete with breakdancing and a Ronald McDonald cameo. While lively, these scenes fail to align with the central narrative. The screenplay lacks coherent buildup, diverting into odd tangents that fail to serve the E.T.-inspired storyline or generate genuine sentiment. For these reasons, "Mac and Me" is remembered as an extravagantly misguided effort that is outlandish enough to have garnered a cult following, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Mac and Me has had a rocky past, often remembered more for its blatant product placements and peculiar plot rather than its merit as a film. However, the recent Blu-ray release by Shout! Factory provides a unique opportunity to revisit this cult classic. The HD transfer is commendable, bringing a surprising level of clarity and sharpness to the film's visuals. Colors are vibrant, and fine details are well-preserved. Though the special effects remain a product of their time, the remastering work elevates their presentation substantially.

Audio quality on this release is similarly impressive. The LPCM 2.0 stereo track offers clean dialogue and balances the film's soundtrack effectively. While it may not rival modern surround systems, the audio retains a nostalgic charm that complements the eccentricity of the film. Extras included in the Collector’s Edition are a particular highlight, offering informative and entertaining insights into the movie’s production history, including interviews with cast and crew.

In conclusion, after bombing during its initial theatrical release, Mac and Me has remained in cult appreciation circles thanks to Paul Rudd (who always showed a harrowing clip of a runaway wheelchair during promotional duties on various Conan O'Brien talk shows) and fans of McDonald's dance parties. The picture really is weird and shameless, with many label-to-camera product placements (Coca-Cola being the Reese's Pieces of the film) and a climax that's highly inappropriate for a kids movie, while the very end of the effort promises a sequel that was never made. I'll try to be positive and praise the casting of a real physically disabled boy in the lead role, which is not a common occurrence in Hollywood, and there's something oddly comforting about an immigration theme slapped on the end of the feature, with Raffill making a bootleg turn into American Dream aspirations after 90 minutes of fear-based plotting. But these are morsels of goodness in a seriously mismanaged production. For all of its intents and purposes, Mac and Me did poorly at the box office upon release but survives today as a kooky cult film. Folks who saw it when they were young are likely to get more out of it than those who were born long after its release, but it’s worth checking out. Shout! Factory’s Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is sure to delight many folks from both camps.