Explorers **** (1985, Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Bobby Fite) – Classic Movie Review 297

In director Joe Dante’s highly engaging 1985 sci-fi fantasy, a trio of American schoolboys (Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson) hastily launch themselves into space in a rickety home-made starship and encounter wacky and weird aliens.

Hawke (aged 15) plays alien-obsessed Ben Crandall, who dreams of a circuit board, gets up and draws it out and sets it up with his buddies Wolfgang Muller and Darren Woods. They hadn’t realised it at first, but it proves the basis for the starship that they call the Thunder Road.

There’s a very great deal to enjoy here, especially in the playing and in Eric Luke’s imaginative screenplay with its startlingly offbeat use of American popular culture, both 50s sci-fi movies and vintage TV shows. Dante is on top form with an ideal subject for him.

The three appealing young stars are perfect in their well-defined roles: Hawke as the fantasist Ben, Phoenix as scientist-swot Wolfgang and Presson as the social reject Darren. This 80s retro classic is a real charmer, with top effects by Industrial Light and Magic.

Dana Ivey and James Cromwell play Phoenix’s parents, Mrs and Mr Müller. Writer Eric Luke plays Darren’s teacher and Danny Nucci plays the Nasty Kid at School. Dante’s regular character actor Dick Miller plays Charlie Drake (not the British comedian, unfortunately). But all the focus is, rightly, on the three lads.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 297

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