Retro Review - Harry and the Hendersons

 

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Imagine you're a kid, and you are visiting a lovely little bakery in your home town. The master baker crafts a special cupcake for you, and it is exquisite. At that age, you mainly focus on the sweetness and the simple fact that it's a cupcake. Anything else about its creation likely goes over your head. It's not until you get a little older and a bit more mature and return to that same bakery to enjoy that lovely cupcake again that you gain a better appreciation for how much effort goes into making even the simplest treats. You also get to know the baker, learn about what makes him/her enjoy baking so much, and how they turned to the craft to better the human condition. Suddenly, that cupcake you remember enjoying as a kid has a much more profound impact. So when you want that same cupcake again as an adult, it suddenly tastes even better than before. Such is the case with one of my favorite films from my childhood, Harry and the Hendersons. I have always been fond of this movie and grew a deeper appreciation for it well into adulthood. 

The story follows a family of four returning home from a camping trip. George (John Lithgow), the father, is an expert hunter and marksman. While he is not necessarily a complete "alpha-male" jerk, he isn't entirely sympathetic towards the creatures he kills. That is until George accidentally hits a strange and massive beast with his car. Upon closer inspection, he discovers that he hit none other than the legendary Bigfoot. Uncertain/unsympathetic of the creature's well being, George convinces his family to take it home for fame and fortune. Once they arrive, Bigfoot turns out to be alive and well and wreaks havoc on their house. Despite the chaos of the moment, George and his family learn a great deal about Bigfoot: he's intelligent, a vegetarian, and sympathetic towards other animals, as evidenced by Bigfoot burying the taxidermied animal heads found throughout George's house. Upon witnessing this display of empathy, George has an epiphany of sorts and realizes the error of his ways. He is sparking a friendship between himself and Bigfoot and the rest of his family, gives him the name Harry, and even consider keeping him around as a member of the family. However, that idea goes out the window when they discover another expert hunter on the Bigfoots trail. Now, George and his family must do the right thing and return Harry to his home in the woods. The only question is, will they succeed before the hunter finds him first? 

This beautiful story's overarching theme is empathy, learning to care for something or someone by obtaining a better understanding of their perspective. There's also some commentary on the dangers of jumping to assumptions with a little anti-gun mentality for good measure. There isn't a "villain" per se; instead, the story's antagonistic force is, arguably, fear itself. Those who do embody more antagonistic tendencies are won-over by example rather than defeated. It's a beautiful demonstration of how setting a good example can have a lasting effect on the young and the old. 

Another prominent feature of the film is the incredible creature effects. Like most memorable films of the 1980s, Harry and the Hendersons brings the legendary Bigfoot to life with practical effects. A combination of traditional body-suit costuming accompanied by an animatronic helmet. Special make-up effects artist Rick Baker was the creative mind behind Harry's costume and mask development. Incidentally, Harry and the Hendersons earned Rick Baker his second Oscar. The gentleman who had the honor of dawning Harry's costume is actor Kevin Peter Hall. A giant of a man who stood over seven feet tall. Some may recall Kevin Peter Hall as The Predator in the original 1987 film and the 1990 sequel. Sadly, Kevin Peter Hall passed away in 1991, though his legacy as the loveable giant Harry will always live in the hearts of those who see the film. 

I've always noticed something new that I never have before in all of my years watching this film. For example, minor spoilers, there is a scene when a police car accidentally crashes into an electronics shop with a bunch of televisions playing the local news. The moment before the car crashes in the window, there is a billboard advertisement for seat belt safety located in the foreground, featuring the iconic Crash Test Dummies that took the world by storm. Then, when they crash through the window, one of the televisions lands on the car's hood, playing one of the many commercials featuring the Crash Test Dummies. I only noticed the clever joke when I recently watched the movie again for this retro review. I do not doubt that when I see the film once more, I'll catch something else. 

Harry and the Hendersons is the quintessential "feel-good" movie. Its lovable characters, charming story, and heartfelt message about empathy and compassion, along with its expert delivery, makes this film a classic in every way. If you have not yet seen this piece of golden cinema, I encourage you to take some time out of your day and give it a look. I promise that it just might make your day. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.