The beloved hit had warmed our hearts nearly four decades ago and is here to do it again.
One of the most beloved characters from all time, E.T., has made a come back this holiday season. 37 years after the cute extraterrestrial left Earth, he has returned to meet his friend Elliot, played by Henry Thomas. Instead of a sequel film, there is a four-minute advertisement called A Holiday Reunion by the brand Comcast to show us how the friends reunite.
The original film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which released in 1982 has left an indelible mark in the hearts of fans and seeing it again delighted them. In the ad, we see Elliot's children spotting him outside their home first before their father runs to his old friend. With John Williams’ signature score, Reese’s Pieces and scream that will remind you of little Drew Barrymore, the new ad is like history repeating itself.
It's a heartwarming scene when Elliot says, "You came back" as if he was waiting all his life for the miracle to repeat itself. He introduces E.T. to his family before taking him inside their home. Since the friendly alien came to Earth almost 40 years after the first time, he was introduced to what the internet is as well. Elliot tells him, "Lots changed since you were here," according to People.
The ad even refers to the old movie in a few scenes, taking you back to our beloved Steven Spielberg directed movie such as the dying flowers coming back to life will . The children fly through the air while riding the bike and we are even told that the alien has a family back home it needs to get back to. Just like the 1982 film, the kids take him to the spot where his ride is waiting for him.
He tells Elliot's children while pointing to their heart that he will be right there. Just like the last time, we bid goodbye to the beloved character that set our imagination on fire. The ad is perfect for the holidays because it brings back the nostalgia of yesteryears for adults and introduces children to a generation of films that they probably don't know about. It's an ode to the classic film from 37 years ago that has remained a favorite of fans, after all, this time.
"The audience is going to get everything they want out of a sequel without the messy bits that could destroy the beauty of the original and the special place it has in people’s minds and hearts," said Thomas, in a statement provided by Comcast, according to Variety.
References:
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/comcast-e-t-extra-terrestrial-advertising-1203419083/
https://people.com/movies/et-reunion-henry-thomas-elliott-new-ad/
