Okay, settle in, fellow travelers of the tape C-90 galaxy. Let’s talk about a return trip that many of us anticipated, perhaps with a mix of hope and trepidation, back when Blockbuster shelves were still sacred ground. Remember where we left our favorite Melmacian smart-mouth in 1990? Cornered, lights closing in, the Alien Task Force finally getting their prize. It was a gut-punch of a cliffhanger, leaving a generation of kids staring at the static, wondering "What happens next?" For six long years, that question hung in the air, until this arrived: Project: ALF (1996). Seeing that furry face again on a video store shelf felt like bumping into an old friend in a strange town, but did the reunion live up to the wait?
A Different Kind of Crash Landing
The first, most jarring thing about Project: ALF is the immediate and total absence of the Tanner family. Gone is the familiar suburban living room, the patient Willie, the tolerant Kate, the kids Lynn and Brian, even Lucky the cat. Instead, ALF (voiced, as ever, with sardonic perfection by creator Paul Fusco) finds himself captive within the sterile confines of Edmonds Air Force Base, the subject of study and, for some, elimination. This wasn't just a change of scenery; it was a fundamental shift in the show's DNA. The original ALF series, for all its alien shenanigans, was rooted in the warmth of a family sitcom dynamic. This TV movie, directed by TV movie veteran Dick Lowry, plunges ALF into a quasi-military thriller, albeit one punctuated by wisecracks about wanting snacks and hitting on female scientists.
It’s a bold move, born partly from necessity – reports suggest budget constraints and a desire to refresh the concept prevented the original cast's return – but it fundamentally alters the stakes and the humor. The Tanners provided the heart, the grounding normalcy against which ALF’s alien absurdity could shine. Without them, ALF often feels adrift, his jokes landing differently amidst the paranoia and protocol of a secret government facility.
New Faces in the Containment Zone
Replacing the Tanners are characters who feel more suited to an episode of The X-Files than a sitcom spinoff. We have the sympathetic Major Rick Mulligan (William O'Leary) and the kindly scientist Dr. Melissa Hill (Jensen Daggett), who see ALF as more than just an extraterrestrial specimen. They become his unlikely allies, navigating the bureaucracy and danger posed by the film's antagonist.
And who better to embody that threat than Martin Sheen as Colonel Gilbert Milfoil? Sheen brings his trademark intensity to the role of a man obsessed with exterminating the alien menace, convinced ALF carries deadly diseases. Seeing an actor of his caliber here is certainly... interesting. He commits fully, lending a gravitas that almost feels out of place, yet undeniably anchors the film’s more serious ambitions. Opposite him, the late, great Miguel Ferrer appears as Dr. Dexter Moyers, a scientist whose allegiances are more ambiguous. Ferrer, who we fondly remember from things like RoboCop (1987) and later Twin Peaks, excels at playing characters simmering with cynicism and self-interest, and he doesn't disappoint here, adding a layer of intrigue.
Their performances are professional, certainly, but they exist in a different tonal universe than ALF himself. O'Leary and Daggett provide the necessary warmth and connection for ALF, acting as surrogate Tanners, but the chemistry inevitably feels different, forged in escape plans rather than shared family dinners.
Retro Fun Facts: Behind the Barbed Wire
The very existence of Project: ALF is a fascinating piece of TV history. Intended not just as a conclusion but also as a potential backdoor pilot for a new ALF-centric series that never materialized, it represents a gamble to keep the character alive post-sitcom. Filmed largely around Vancouver, British Columbia, it aimed for a slightly bigger scope than the four-camera setup of the original series, leaning into location work and a more action-oriented plot. Yet, it still retains that distinct made-for-TV feel characteristic of the mid-90s – the lighting, the pacing, the slightly less polished effects work compared to theatrical releases. Remember ALF himself was famously a demanding puppet to operate, requiring multiple puppeteers and intricate setups; translating that to more dynamic scenes outside the familiar Tanner home likely presented its own set of challenges. Initial fan reaction was famously mixed, largely driven by the disappointment over the Tanners' exclusion, which felt less like a creative choice and more like losing the soul of the show.
Closure, Compromise, or Curiosity?
So, does Project: ALF deliver the satisfying resolution fans craved? Well, yes and no. It does resolve the cliffhanger, showing us ALF's fate immediately following his capture. It gives him a new (albeit temporary) lease on life and a chance to escape the clutches of Colonel Milfoil. The plot involves ALF using his wits (and penchant for causing chaos) to navigate the base, eventually leading to a climatic escape attempt. There are moments where the old ALF charm flickers through – his interactions with other "guests" of the government, his commentary on human absurdity.
However, the blend of sitcom humor and military thriller elements never quite gels. The jokes sometimes feel forced against the backdrop of potential dissection, and the plot, while functional, lacks the emotional resonance of the original series. It feels like what it is: an attempt to retrofit a beloved character into a new format, hoping the brand recognition would carry it. Watching it now, it feels less like a grand finale and more like a curious detour, a glimpse into what might have been had ALF's adventures continued down a different path. It’s like finding a bonus track on an old cassette – interesting to hear, but not quite part of the main album you loved.
Rating: 4/10
Why a 4? While it technically resolves the infamous cliffhanger and features solid performances from Sheen and Ferrer, Project: ALF fundamentally misunderstands what made the original series work. By jettisoning the Tanner family, it loses its heart and emotional core. The tonal clash between ALF's sitcom antics and the military thriller plot is often awkward, and the humor feels diluted in the new setting. It functions as a plot continuation but lacks the magic and warmth that made us fall for the Melmacian in the first place. It's watchable as a curiosity piece for die-hard fans, but it feels like a missed opportunity, a reunion where the most important guests didn't show up.
Ultimately, Project: ALF remains a footnote in the ALF saga, a testament to the difficulty of capturing lightning in a bottle twice, especially when you change the bottle entirely. It answered a question, perhaps, but left many of us wishing for a different kind of homecoming.