37 years ago, we got our first compassionate look at extra terrestrial life. Stephen Spielberg told the story of an alien who becomes stranded on earth and a little boy who befriends him, saves him from the government and helps send him home. You know the story.
I was 10 when E.T. the Extra Terrestrial was released. I remember it vividly, especially the inconsolable ugly crying that came along with it. I remember having E.T. trading cards, stuffies, toys, and even an E.T. cake for my birthday that year. I even had a classmate in grade school that was a budding artist and he used to draw me my very own E.T. comic strips. To this day, Reese’s Pieces are still one of my all-time favorite candies and I still have the drawing Daniel did too!
Digital cable company, Xfinity, has created what can be arguably the best commercial ever made. Commercial, hell, it’s more like a movie short, clocking in around five minutes but they tell an amazing story in that amount of time.
Elliot (Henry Thomas) is all grown up with a family of his own. It’s Christmas time, his kids, looking quite similar to young Elliot with his red hoodie, and sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore) outside playing in the snow when strange things start to happen. The kids discover this strange, squatty, funny looking alien hiding behind their snowman and all three have the same reaction as they did 37 years ago upon their first encounter.
In five minutes time, I was pulled in and back to my childhood with an ear to ear smile, reliving every moment of the original movie, picking up on little Easter eggs that pay tribute to the original and yes, finding my eyes welled up with tears. And I love it!!
Check out Xfinity’s “A Holiday Reunion” ad. Tissues not included.
