There are some movies that mean more to you because of when you saw them. They can bear repeated watchings because they are just that good or because some combination of story and nostalgia provides a kind of comfort food. One such movie for me is the science fiction sleeper, “Enemy Mine” (1985).
Starring Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr., “Enemy Mine,” based on a Barry B. Longyear story, starts in 2092 with space battle between human and Drac forces. Willis E. Davidge’s (Quaid) plane gets hit by a Drac fighter plane in a skirmish that leads both planes to crash land on an alien planet. Davidge later encounters his Drac foe, Jeriba Shigan (Gosset, Jr.), and their antagonism evolves into friendship as they both fight for survival on the barren planet.
What makes “Enemy Mine” so special to me is the humor and heart it uses to tell its story. Davidge and Shigan realize over time how little their races know of one another and how these misunderstandings have led to senseless violence and war. Davidge and Shigan’s navigation of their cultural differences highlights how much absurdity lies behind some of our most dearly held beliefs. Watching two beings who were told to hate each other learn to do the opposite is what makes this film so enjoyable and poignant.
So, if you can overlook the now dated special effects and cheesy ’80s music, I think that you will find that “Enemy Mine” holds up pretty well with its solid storytelling and acting.
And if you aren’t crying by the closing credits, well, then you’re no friend of mine.
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