Verdict
Summary
A family-friendly concept movie that sort of rehashes E.T. and the Spielberg formula, William Dear’s endearing film continues to entertain almost 40 years later, thanks to strong direction, good performances that don’t go for the campiness that might’ve run rampant under another filmmaker, and a classical score by Bruce Broughton that enlivens the proceedings. Rick Baker’s work on the creature is amazing and virtually perfect, and Kevin Peter Hall (who also played the Predator twice) really sells the monster with a very unique physical performance. Still fun for all ages, this one has great crossover appeal.
Plot:
A family on a weekend trip to a state park takes a turn when they encounter Bigfoot … and bring him home!
Review:
George and Nancy Henderson (John Lithgow and Melinda Dillon) and their kids Sarah and Ernie (Margaret Langrick and Joshua Rudoy) took a weekend trip to a nearby national park in Washington, and on their way home they run over a very large creature: Bigfoot! Thinking they can bring the creature home to exploit, they strap the beast to the top of the car and head home, but in the middle of the night, they’re in for a rude awakening when the Sasquatch (played by Kevin Peter Hall, designed by Rick Baker) wakes up and tears their kitchen and shed apart, looking for something to eat! Realizing very quickly that the creature isn’t some demonic monster, but instead a kind-hearted vegetarian, they try to domesticate him, which turns out to be a very big challenge (literally) when the Bigfoot breaks and demolishes everything in their house, from doorways, ceilings, floors, tables, chairs, their fridge, and just about everything else. After realizing that maybe they made a mistake, George sends the creature back home to fend for itself in suburbia, causing the neighborhood to be terrorized when the poor, lost creature tries finding its way home, which proves to be impossible because of the media frenzy it inspires. With a gun-toting population hunting “Harry” down and a pesky French Sasquatch hunter (played by David Suchet) close on its trail, George and his family step back in the picture to help Harry find his way back home.
A family-friendly concept movie that sort of rehashes E.T. and the Spielberg formula, William Dear’s endearing film continues to entertain almost 40 years later, thanks to strong direction, good performances that don’t go for the campiness that might’ve run rampant under another filmmaker, and a classical score by Bruce Broughton that enlivens the proceedings. Rick Baker’s work on the creature is amazing and virtually perfect, and Kevin Peter Hall (who also played the Predator twice) really sells the monster with a very unique physical performance. Still fun for all ages, this one has great crossover appeal. A TV sitcom followed a few years later.
Kino Lorber brings Harry and the Hendersons to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray for the first time in a two-disc pack that looks great in a new 4K scan. Special features include three audio commentaries (one with Dear is brand new), three featurettes, deleted scenes, a trailer, and a slipcover.
