The last twenty years have been pretty rough for Alf. At the tail-end of the 1980s he was one of the biggest stars in America, alongside Arsenio Hall, Roseanne Barr and Dana Carvey’s impression of George Bush (though not Carvey himself). The character, an alien from the planet Melmac whose sarcasm was only matched by his insatiable hunger for domesticated cats, had the world on a string, even if he was just a puppet, but that all changed when his titular NBC sitcom ended its run in March of 1990.
Since then he’s found scant work. His last notable appearance was being namechecked in a 1995 episode of The Simpsons in which Bart sells his soul to Milhouse (who then trades the soul for Alf pogs). Normally the article would end here and we’d all chuckle over a shared rememberance of the days when The Simpsons was regularly hilarious, but thanks to Sony Pictures Animation there is so much more to discuss! Specifically, that the studio has signed a deal to revive Alf’s career by putting him in an upcoming feature film.
Sony Pictures Animation has closed a deal to acquire rights to the classic 1980s sitcom ALF and will develop the property into a hybrid CG/live action feature.
Jordan Kerner, who produced SPA’s adaptation of 1980s Saturday morning cartoon staple The Smurfs and helped turn it into a hybrid blockbuster franchise, will produce the project with show creators Tom Patchett, a veteran of 1970s comedies, and puppeteer Paul Fusco.
Though this project is still in the very early stages the Hollywood Reporter believes that Fusco, who voiced Alf throughout the original NBC sitcom, will return to his most famous vocal role.
While we certainly hope that Fusco returns, the rest of this news is confusing us a bit. We’re not at all surprised to see a Hollywood studio attempting to cash in on a property from the 1980s — that’s pretty much what they do now — but what is “hybrid CG/live action feature” supposed to mean? We know what it would normally mean: Something akin to the recent Smurfs films in which Neil Patrick Harris stars alongside computer-generated, miniscule blue people, but how is that supposed to work with Alf? He’s a puppet, so either Sony Pictures Animation is planning to use CGI to create a new iteration of Alf, or the aforementioned puppet is the only part of this film that’s going to be in live-action, while the rest of the cast is created by computers. We don’t need to explain why that second option is baffling, but if SPA opts for the first route, doesn’t that detract from Alf’s inherent appeal? We loved him because he was a cynical jerk who just so happened to be as cuddly looking as one of Jim Henson’s famous creations. A CGI version of Alf would be shiny and easier to animate, but it loses a certain hypothetical tactile appeal intrinsic to the character’s success back in the 80s.
Plus, Alf spent a major part of his time in the original series attempting to stuff cats down his gullet. How is that supposed to work if he’s been generated by computers? Cats are hard enough to act with for flesh-and-blood humans, so we have to assume that a finicky feline must be a total nightmare for people tasked with animating a believable, fuzzy alien around their flailing, kitty rage.
Then again, it’s also possible that SPA plans to completely rework Alf canon to make the character more palatable to modern audiences. Maybe he’ll be given a hip new attitude and contemporary interests like “surfing” and “being radical to the extreme.” Kids are still into neon skateboards, right?
All of Sony’s Marvel movies, ranked from worst to best
Sony-produced Marvel movies have historically been a mixed bag. At times, the company has delivered superhero masterpieces like the Spider-Verse films. Other times, they have given viewers half-baked cash grabs like Morbius and Madame Web. Whether or not audiences think the company is fit to handle beloved properties like Spider-Man and Venom, they can't deny that Sony played a significant role in making Marvel movies the pop culture phenomenon they are today.
Now that Madame Web has premiered in theaters, here'sour list of Sony's Marvel movies, rankedfrom worst to best. Please note that this list won't include the Men in Black films, as Marvel didn't create the original comic books they were based on.
Animation is a genre that seems to get better with each passing year, as technologies used to create these films improve and catch up with filmmakers' ambitious visions. This year saw no shortage of incredible groundbreaking animated movies that continue to highlight that the genre has something to offer viewers of all ages.
The best animated movies of the year pushed the envelope in numerous ways through their complex plots, compelling characters, and, of course, innovative visuals. These top animated films are a fantastic mix of family-friendly picks and more provocative movies made for adults. From a long-awaited Studio Ghibli film to a surprisingly gorgeous superhero flick, there's no denying that 2023 has produced some animated hits that will be remembered as genre classics.
5. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
The best animated Christmas movies you need to watch now
'Tis the season for animation! Christmas isn't complete without a few beloved films from the genre that fill the weeks leading up to the holiday with festive cheer. The best animated Christmas movies are family-friendly favorites that tell heartwarming stories, often with crucial lessons and transformative character arcs that underscore the things worth celebrating.
From nostalgic classics to contemporary delights, these Christmas movies are perfect for a fun night with the entire family or even a quiet one by the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa. With whimsical worlds full of clever reindeer, an extraordinary train, creative versions of Santa Claus, and more, there's something for everyone to enjoy during the most wonderful time of the year.
Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009)
