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Allen review – what would happen if ET came back for Elliott as an adult? Turns out nothing great
Netflix’s family film Allen imagines that Elliott-like character Petey, now an adult, gets another visit from the alien friend he could never forget. The reversal of the usual childhood-friendship story gives the film an intriguing starting point, but the review says it does not develop that idea into a distinctive or satisfying film.
Petey first meets Allen as a child in 1990s Queensland, then longs to see him again as an adult, despite his brother and sister-in-law urging him to move on. The film is Ludo Studio’s first live-action feature; the studio is known for Bluey. The review praises its good-natured tone and colourful, retro look, but criticises its unsubtle dialogue, familiar plot devices, generic villain and an alien with little personality.
In short
- Petey’s alien friend returns when Petey is grown up.
- The premise offers a fresh twist on a familiar childhood story.
- The review finds the film formulaic and its alien underdeveloped.
Explained simply
Allen is a family film about Petey, who meets an alien called Allen as a child in Queensland in the 1990s. As an adult, Petey still hopes to see his old friend again, while his brother and sister-in-law encourage him to move on.
The story revisits a familiar idea: a child forms a lasting bond with an alien visitor. This time, the human is grown up, raising questions about how childhood memories and friendships fit into adult life.
The film is the first live-action feature from Ludo Studio, the Australian company known for the animated series Bluey. Its story draws on a tradition of family films about children and extraordinary visitors, while shifting the focus to what happens when that childhood connection endures.
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