Review of *batteries not included (1987) by Stuart K — 16 Mar 2012

Directed by Matthew Robbins (Dragonslayer (1981), this is a heartwarming science fiction family adventure that started out life as a story for Steven Spielberg's TV series Amazing Stories, but Spielberg liked the story so much, he decided to make a film of it, and this is the result.

It's a very moving story as well, with some great special effects that still look good now. Set in a rundown apartment block on East 8th Street in Manhattan, it's up for demolition as every other building around it has been knocked down, but it's tenants Frank Riley (Hume Cronyn), his wife Faye (Jessica Tandy), handyman Harry Noble (Frank McRae), expectant mother Marisa Esteval (Elizabeth Peña) and starving artist Mason Baylor (Dennis Boutsikaris) have resisted all calls and offers of money to move out.

Developer executive Mr. Lacey (Michael Greene) even sends thug Carlos (Michael Carmine) to scare them into leaving, but to no avail. Then, the Riley's are met by a pair of flying tiny robots, which Faye comes to call The Fix-Its, when everyone else in the apartment block discover them, they use them to get ahead in life despite threats from the developers.

It's a heartwarming little fable, using proper special effects as well. It benefits from Cronyn and Tandy as the likeable old timers being at the centre of this story as well, you don't get heartwarming and moving family films like this now, plus Brad Bird had a hand in the screenplay.