John Lithgow stars in the family comedy adventure Harry and the Hendersons. New to 4K UHD loaded with special features from Kino Lorber.
The Film
This reviewer often wonders if the 1980s were filled with so many classic films or if we, as a generation of latchkey kids, watched them so many times on cable that they became classics to us. Rubbing the rougher spots smooth until we learned to love or adore those inconsistencies. Case in point, William Dear’s Harry and the Hendersons. An Amblin-produced family adventure comedy about Bigfoot, who teaches a family that they need a little bit more understanding in their lives.
George Henderson (John Lithgow) and his family are on a camping trip in the Pacific Northwest when they hit a giant animal. That giant animal turns out to be Bigfoot. They, impossibly, put what they think is roadkill atop their station wagon and go home to Seattle. They quickly realize that Bigfoot isn’t dead but very much alive. Like an unruly new pet, the giant wreaks havoc upon their lives until George has enough and loses his top forcing Harry to run away. The race is on to find Harry before the city hunts him down, or worse, hunter Jacques LaFleur (David Suchet). With the help of a Bigfoot expert, Dr. Wallace Wrightwood (Don Ameche), the Hendersons race to get Harry back home.
Harry and the Hendersons is a decent movie wrapped around the amazing makeup effects work of Rick Baker and the empathetic performance of Kevin Peter Hall. Baker’s suit and animatronics are next-level good, transcending effects work and getting into the best of what he did… performance. Harry is as memorable a creature character as was ever put on screen in the 1980s. I would say that he rivals Carlo Rambali’s ET in design work. You can’t help but love Harry instantly. Much of that also has to do with the special work of actor Hall. Make no mistake, Hall’s work is pure performance, stealing the show from Academy Award-nominated and winning actors. Adding to the mix is the considered work of Cinematographer Allen Daviau, who coincidentally shot ET: The Extraterrestrial, whose lens understands how to capture the magic of Baker’s work and Hall’s performance.
Harry is so good that you almost forget how standard issue everything else is. George, the screaming father. The obsessed hunter. The doubtful scientist. The angry teenager. The nosey neighbor. Yes, it’s all performance by the aforementioned award-winning actors, but even then, it all feels … perfunctory. Part of the brilliance of ET: The Extraterrestrial was the way Melissa Mathison’s script brilliantly both adheres to and twists the conventions of the boy’s adventure story. Harry and the Hendersons is content with being a carbon copy of that film, just changing out Bigfoot for an Alien.
That critique aside, Harry and the Hendersons remains a marvel of makeup effects and a fun family adventure comedy with a big(foot) heart.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is another excellent example of the fine work Kino Lorber is doing with their upgrades to 4K. This flawless presentation of the 35mm shot film by cinematographer Allen Daviau. There is nary a scratch nor defect throughout the runtime. This new Dolby Vision master allows Daviau’s soft, natural light and beautiful imagery a level of fine detail that just cannot be produced even on Blu-ray. Kino has spent the time and care to ensure that the film is brought to 4K UHD, properly showcasing the film’s 35mm origins.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director William Dear, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
- NEW Audio Commentary by Hats Off Entertainment’s Joe Ramoni
- Archival Audio Commentary by William Dear
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director William Dear, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
- NEW Audio Commentary by Hats Off Entertainment’s Joe Ramoni
- Archival Audio Commentary by William Dear
- Harry… Finding the Missing Link
- Making of Harry and the Hendersons
- Newswrap
- Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
The first of three Audio Commentaries is an all-new track by Director William Dear, moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale, and opens with their respective credentials and how Dear came up with the idea for the film back in the 1970s was eventually developed as a sitcom, then how directing an episode of Amazing Stories eventually led to this idea becoming a Steven Spielberg production through Amblin Entertainment. Some of the other details include the collaboration with Rick Baker to create Harry; the budget, and how much went into the creation of Harry; the casting of John Lithgow; the casting and work of Kevin Peter Hall, who played Harry; how the suit was constructed and layered to accomplish the shape and structure; how they had to fight the Academy for their nomination (eventual win) for Best Makeup Effects; the casting and work of the Henderson family; the work of editor Donn Cambern; the production schedule working on location in Seattle and in studio; working with Dom Ameche which includes a great Quentin Tarantino story about stealing a line for a specific movie; the work of cinematographer Allen Daviau; the kind of producer that Steven Speilberg was; a larger discussion of anecdotes from the production throughout; and much more.
The second of three Audio Commentaries is an all-new track by Hats Off Entertainment’s Joe Ramoni, who opens with his credentials before diving into what he considers ‘one of his favorite comedies’ and his love of how “simple the concept is”. Some of the details include the development of the screenplay that parallels the career ascension of director/co-writer William Dear; a discussion of the advertising and how they hid Harry and how that hurt the reception; the work and career of John Lithgow; a discussion of the Rick Baker design and influences on Harry; the fact that Kevin Peter Hall could initially be cast as Harry, though Baker had suggested him; a larger discussion of the career and life of Kevin Peter Hall; a discussion of the career and work here of Rick Baker; the work of Don Ameche and David Suchet; a discussion of the 90s Sitcom series, which lasted four seasons, that both Baker and Hall returned for; and much more.
Harry… Finding the Missing Link (17:20) – is an archival featurette from the original DVD release that focuses (very cheekily) on the makeup design by Rick Baker in the creation of Harry. Using a combination of B-Roll behind-the-scenes footage, scenes from the film, and interviews with Baker and director William Dear to show how they accomplished this Herculean task, including the casting of Kevin Peter Hall and how he brought heart and soul to the character.
Making of Harry and the Hendersons (5:39) – this archival EPK making-of is from the time of release, narrated by John Lithgow, featuring the cast and crew discussing the plot, characters, and themes of the family comedy adventure film.
Newswrap (2:35) – is a brief EPK featurette that focuses on the makeup effects in the film.
Deleted Scenes (5:59) – a collection of 4 deleted scenes that are essentially character moments for Harry, the family, and Jaques. Each can be navigated by using the next and back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Harry and the Hendersons (1:58); UFORIA (0:57); Continental Divide(2:52); Hot Pursuit (1:54); Honky Tonk Freeway (2:40);
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has provided collectors with another winning 4K UHD upgrade. Highest Possible Recommendations!!