Paramount Pictures
Joe Dante, a director who made a name for himself with the 1984 hit “Gremlins” and its sequel, has always had a knack for the 1950s B-movie genre. His filmography is filled with cartoon comedy like 2003’s “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” and dark satirical humor as seen in “The Burbs.” During the 80s, Dante capitalized on the surge in sci-fi films that echoed the Spielbergian formula of blending childhood nostalgia with the awe of alien existence. His 1985 science fantasy film, “Explorers,” is a testament to this.
“Explorers” suffered a commercial failure upon its release due to several reasons. A hurried production schedule and the release of “Back to the Future” around the same period overshadowed the film’s merits, despite positive reviews from critics. However, “Explorers” managed to carve out a cult following over the years, thanks to its innate charm, even though it was a box office flop.
The captivating charm of “Explorers” is largely attributed to the performances of the three child actors who portray the main characters. In “Explorers,” Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix made their theatrical debuts as best friends Ben and Wolfgang, while Jason Presson portrayed Darren Woods, a punk kid with a talent for assembling machines from junkyard scraps. This talent plays a crucial role as the boys build a spaceship and venture into outer space, guided only by a vision of a circuit board that becomes the blueprint for their spacecraft.
So, what makes “Explorers” so special and loved?
Ethan Hawke’s Early Role as a Gifted Child in Explorers
Paramount Pictures
Ben, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, is characterized by his vivid imagination, which often manifests in daydreams about fantastical sci-fi scenarios. His best friend Wolfgang, a child prodigy, encourages him to create a circuit board design that he keeps seeing in his dreams. Together, they develop a microchip while balancing schoolwork and evading bullies. Darren’s involvement leads to the creation of an electromagnetic bubble that can travel at incredible speeds and distances, defying the laws of inertia. The specifics of how they achieve this are less important than the fact that these kids, driven by their passion, manage to build a fully functional spaceship from an abandoned Tilt-A-Whirl car, which they affectionately name Thunder Road.
“Explorers” successfully captures the magic of boundless imagination and the power of friendship, even though it takes a turn for the eccentric in the third act. The boys’ spaceship gets hijacked mid-flight, leading them to meet two young aliens whose understanding of humanity is based solely on pop culture. This encounter, while initially endearing, exposes them to the darker realities of such groundbreaking discoveries. However, a resolution is quickly reached through dialogue.
The way these revelations unfold is decidedly quirky, with an ever-optimistic Ben propelling the story towards a surreal ending where his dreams serve as a platform for realizing his deepest desires. Watching “Explorers” as a child is likely to feel more magical than as an adult, but the allure of dreamlike make-believe often trumps reality, even if only momentarily.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
