Enemy Mine

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett, Jr.
Directed by: Wolfgang Peterson
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Drama
Box Office: $
1985

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary:An earthling (Dennis Quaid) and a Draconian (Louis Gossett, Jr.) crashland on a strange planet and at first attempt to kill each other. However, they soon realize that the only way to survive is to work together and try to put aside their age old hatred.

Review:

Tim: This is a film that starts out strongly with every needed attribute and intention of becoming a space epic, but falters midway through and collapses back upon itself.

It is a brilliant concept, pitting two soldiers from two battling races together on a desolate planet. Once they are stranded, the film becomes fascinating as they work to overcome their hatred, for the mutual goal of self preservation and survival. Here, the film is outstanding. These scenes are all great and offer the hope that you are watching something spectacular.

Dennis Quaid is very good in the role to the point of greatly impressing me. An unrecognizable Louis Gossett, Jr. makes for the perfect counter to Quaid. The casting worked out very well.

Just when you think everything is going so well, the movie takes a disastrous wrong turn. All the potential building up is wasted on a poorly conceived plot twist. Even worse is that this happens halfway through the movie, so we have to suffer for quite a while with the bad taste of opportunity squandered in our mouths. I'd love to go into greater detail here, but I won't spoil the movie for you. Check it out yourself and then we can talk about it.

Enemy Mine could have been really great, but it stumbles, falls, and can't pick itself up again. The first half is great, the second half is disappointing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



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