This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 197! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey Friends! 🚀
Today we have a blast from the past! Last night’s movie night rewind took me to 1986, a time when leg warmers were peak fashion and shoulder pads were, well, let’s just say prominent. The movie in question? None other than the slightly bonkers sci-fi adventure, “Flight of the Navigator,“ that’s part nostalgia, part cosmic road trip.
The story kicks off with 12-year-old David Freeman, played by Joey Cramer, who’s just your average kid hanging out in Fort Lauderdale. He’s fetching his younger brother from a friend’s house when bam! He takes a tumble and gets knocked out. When he wakes up, though, things get real weird real fast. It seems like only a few hours have passed for him, but in the real world, it’s been eight whole years. His family is freaked out, the scientists are poking and prodding, and David? He’s just trying to figure out what’s up with his sudden ’80s to ’90s time jump.
That’s when things get really weird. Turns out, David was abducted by this super advanced alien spaceship that’s been cruising around the galaxy, collecting specimens from different planets. And get this – the ship is actually alive and has its own personality! It’s called Max, who is part robotic, part sass-machine, and it’s voiced by none other than Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman! 🛸
Max needs David’s help to navigate back to its home planet, so David becomes the ship’s navigator. Together, they zip across the stars, dodging government goons and bending the space-time continuum, all while bonding over Beach Boys tunes. It’s a totally tubular trip!
The special effects in this movie are pretty impressive for the time. I mean, sure, they look a bit dated now, but back in ’86, this was cutting-edge stuff. The scenes inside the spaceship are especially cool, with all sorts of glowing panels and high-tech gadgets. It’s like a kid’s dream come true! 🚀
One thing I really appreciated about this movie was how it dealt with some pretty heavy themes, like the passage of time and the fear of being left behind. David’s family has moved on without him, and he struggles to find his place in this new world. It’s actually kind of heartbreaking at times, but the movie never gets too bogged down in the drama. It always manages to keep things light and fun. 😊
The thing that really sticks with you, though, is the heart of the story. It’s about growing up, finding your way back home, and the bond between David and Max. It’s touching, really, seeing this kid teach a spaceship about humanity and friendship.
The cast is great, too. Joey Cramer is perfect as David – he’s got that wide-eyed innocence that makes you really root for him. And Paul Reubens is hilarious as Max, bringing just the right amount of snark and sass to the role. Sarah Jessica Parker also shows up as a NASA intern who befriends David, and she’s as charming as ever.
So, if you haven’t seen “Flight of the Navigator,” you’re missing out on a delightful slice of ‘80s nostalgia And if you have seen it, maybe it’s time for a rewatch? Let yourself be whisked away to a time when all it took to travel through space was a cool ship and a little imagination. It’s got action, adventure, humor, and heart – everything you could want in a family-friendly flick.
Catch you later, navigators!
Roger
P.S. Do you like Short Stories? If so, click HERE to join my newsletter and receive a FREE short story in your inbox every Monday! Note: As with my books, most of my short stories also feature a gay protagonist.