MAC AND ME

MAC AND ME - D

This was bad. Really bad. Yet here's the thing, it didn't start to get bad until about 50 minutes into the film. Yes, it was the Dollar store version of E.T. from start to finish, but the first half of the film was at least tolerable. The characters were somewhat interesting. The development between the characters and their relationships on the verge of intriguing and for a kid who's never acted before or since, Jade Calegory really carried his scenes well.

Then at the 50 minute mark the family takes a trip to McDonalds and like a rushed sandwich sloppily put together, too much grease and not enough hamburger, it becomes a complete mess. The central relationship between Mac and Eric receives the least amount of attention. While in the first part of the film, they at least tried to develop a bond between the two characters, the second half completely loses focus.

It felt so forced and so rushed, that any attempt at genuine feelings and sincere reactions is ruined with an uncomfortable awkwardness. While the film did succeed a few times in its attempt for humor, it was 0 for all in any effort for anything touching or heartfelt. The second you even began an attempt, it was ruined by a cheap special effect or a moment meant to be sincere that instead came off as disingenuous and cheesy.

It's like the first half of the film they were actually trying. A real attempt at making something good. Then in the second half of the film, the towel was thrown in and they said the Hell with it. Rather than try and differentiate between E.T. they instead took the word ripoff to a whole new level.

This film was a shameless product placement for McDonalds and Coca-Cola that felt like a fifty minute film, followed by a fifty minute commercial. Now that I think about it, older commercials from the late 80's occasionally had more depth and better character development.

What saves this film from an F, is again the performance of Calegory and whether they were intentional or not, the random moments of humor.

Lastly in reference to one of the final scenes, it does seem like it would be easier in this country for an actual alien from outer-space to gain citizenship and a license than it would be for our neighbors in Mexico. I guess the MAC's color of skin must have been white enough for them to pass.