The Scene

"ALF" Movie Announced; Millennials Say, "Who?"

Published on Thursday, August 09 2012
Written by Katie Marzullo
 
Yo Willie! Guess who’s coming back to Earth?
 
It has been brought to my attention that a majority of you reading this would return nothing but blank stares were I to mention the word “ALF” to you. And while I might be able to shake off the depression of being horribly old, I am left with the mild shock of why I even brought it up in the first place – Sony Pictures is developing an “ALF” movie.
 
So, for those that need to get up to speed, here’s the thing: “ALF” was an inexplicably popular TV show from the late-‘80s about a stranded Alien Life Form (<-- A.L.F… get it?) named Gordon Shumway who hides out with a human family until he can figure out a way to get back to his home planet, Melmac. The alien in question was actually a puppet with a sweet ‘80s ‘do, he spoke like your regular average smartass joe, and he was obsessed with eating the family’s cat. Hilarity! For a few years, it didn’t get any cooler than ALF. I’m pretty sure a friend of mine from school even had ALF bedsheets. Yeah, it was serious.
 
I mean, come on, how can you resist THIS:
 
 
 
Who WOULDN’T want to see that on this big screen??
 
No doubt trying to ride the wave of both ‘80s/’90s nostalgia and movies featuring talking creatures interacting with humans (i.e.: Ted), Sony is planning a CGI-infused feature film, and the original voice and puppetmaster behind Mr. Shumway, Paul Fusco, is expected to reprise his pop culture-infectious role, but in voice only. An all-CGI version of ALF doesn’t sound particular riveting, considering the majority of his appeal was being a crappy puppet. You wouldn’t CGI Kermit the Frog, would you??
 
No release date has yet been set, and a writer and director have yet to be hired. And while this might be a nice way to introduce you kids today to some of the ridiculous television old fogies like me were subjected to, some things are just better left in the bowels of YouTube…
 
To those of you who DO remember “ALF”, what do you think of a big-screen comeback?
 
 
- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor