One of the stranger buddy films of the 80's, ENEMY MINE has some great production design and two star performances that help it over its rough stretches.
Dennis Quaid is cocky star pilot Davidge, who crash lands on a barren planet after a risky, ill advised mission. Presumed dead, he's driven to survive at first by revenge.
The alien pilot he was chasing also crash landed on the planet's surface. Louis Gossett Jr (Officer and a Gentleman) is the best thing in the movie as Drac. Every bit the pilot Davidge is, the two have a major clash of wills and start as enemies.
The film follows their five years stranded on the planet as their relationship changes from adversaries to friends, battling against the elements.
The screenplay by Edward Khmara (Ladyhawke, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) is decent and the production design of the planet and worlds by Ralph Zehetbauer (Cabaret, Das Boot) is excellent. Armed only with 80's matte paintings and special effects tools, this is still a great looking movie.
Director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot, Air Force One, In The Line of Fire) knows how to craft a thriller and he has some great moments here, when the story isn't dragging him too far into schmaltz.
Quaid is so likable and Gossett is just so damned good under the clever makeup that the two carry the film easily on their backs.
The last half hour is too predictable compared to its promising start, you can almost feel everyone bending to the studios wishes.
ENEMY MINE is an interesting piece of eighties sci-fi that found a solid following on VHS after bombing in its 1985 theatrical release.
The mid 80's saw plenty of Drac impressions of Gossett's great language and gargling tics around our house.
Kind of slow but great looking, ENEMY MINE gets a B-.
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