Enemy Mine (1985)

 

If you were a kid in the 80's like me, chances are you had a thing for science fiction as it was a rather prolific genre in that era. Not just that, but some true classics were spawned then. Need I mention 'ET' for reference? And of course there was a plethora of other science fiction that often did not have an exorbitant budget, but at times managed to capture the imagination and some were derided, but are actually far better than given credit originally. 

I always wanted to see this one as a kid, but I never got around to it. But now, as an adult, I love every second of it, because as with most really good scifi, the story goes further and deeper than just 'blinky things go zap'. The fact that the film is carried by Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr, two of the most underrated actors to ever grace the silver screen, is a nice bonus.

Not too far into the future, mankind sets out among the stars, but they quickly encounter an alien race known as the Dracs. They are sort of a reptilian looking people, so of course a war breaks out because it's not as though humanity has ever shown any remorse when it comes to people that look different, right?

During a fierce space battle, Willis Davidge (Quaid) damages a Drac fighter, but he himself also crashes down onto an uninhabited planet known as Fyrine IV. Davidge soon discovers the Drac has also landed and plots to kill it off. Things don't go according to plan, and the Drac actually captures Davidge. But they soon find out that they have to at least try and co-exist, because no help is coming anytime soon. 

The rest is a bit predictable, as they somehow manage to overcome their differences and prejudices and even form a friendship. Things do change up when it transpires that Jerry, the Drac, is in fact pregnant, as Dracs reproduce asexually and can't do anything about it. It gets even worse when Jerry has complications and passes away during birth, leaving Davidge alone to care for a little Drac Jerry had already named Zammis.

Sidenote: Jerry is actually called Jeriba, but that doesn't roll off the tongue so easily.

Of course, Zammis wants to know where he comes from, but then Davidge discovers that the planet is frequented by slavers that use Dracs as their labour force and it doesn't get any easier from then on... 

The film is shot pretty much entirely on soundstages to create that otherworldly feel and it sort of works. I mean, some of the composited shots don't really hold up as you can tell they consist of matte paintings, but the look of this one is pretty unique. The focus is never on spectacle, but more on the struggle of two people trying to get to grips with their enemy and learning that they actually have a lot more in common than they ever suspected. The film doesn't shy away from prejudices that keep festering, but eventually they actually, truly become friends and you never question the logic, as you see them get closer to one another. In the hands of a lesser director and lesser actors, this would have felt cheap and unwarranted, but the story is kept lean and relatable and most of all: fairly realistic, despite its setting.

But props have to go to our two leads, Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. They manage to portray two characters you will undoubtedly fall in love with. Considering Gossett is covered in some pretty extensive (and impressive) makeup, that is quite a feat. He truly made Jeriba his own and there is little question this is one of the most memorable characters in science fiction, both in looks and portrayal. Quaid is always solid, so that he does the same here is no real surprise.

Oh, and there is a fun bit part for perennial character face Brion James. Give the man some more love. 

The thing that stops this from being a true classic is purely exposure. Many people have heard of 'Enemy Mine', yet not that many have seen it. It isn't flashy or grand but more character based, which doesn't always work in its favour when it comes to the big names in the genre, but there is little denying that this is a solid film with excellent performances and a must-see for those that carry science fiction close to their hearts.