Fresh
Explorers itself is bubble-thin, but it glides by gracefully on the charm of its three young heroes and their vividly envisioned adventure in space.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Explorers
The adventure begins in your own back yard.
1985 · 1h 49m · PG
Adventure, Family, Science Fiction
Directed by
Joe Dante
Overview
Middle schooler Ben spends his free time watching sci-fi films, playing video games and reading comic books. Surprisingly, his affinity for all things fantastical yields a real result – when he has a vivid dream about technology, his prodigy best friend Wolfgang manages to create a working spacecraft. Joined by their buddy Darren, the boys take off into outer space and encounter some very odd extraterrestrial life.
Director and cast
- Joe Dante Director
- Ethan Hawke as Ben Crandall
- River Phoenix as Wolfgang Müller
- Bobby Fite as Steve Jackson
- James Cromwell as Mr. Müller
- Amanda Peterson as Lori Swenson
- Bradley Gregg as Steve Jackson's Gang
- Georg Olden as Steve Jackson's Gang
- Chance Schwass as Steve Jackson's Gang
- Danny Nucci as Nasty Kid at School
- Jason Presson as Darren Woods
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
Fresh
It looks terrific, moves along at a gallop, and is marvellously good-natured.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh
Explorers,' which is lively but largely familiar until the point when it reaches its batty pinnacle, frequently shows off Mr. Dante's sense of humor to good advantage.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Rotten
Explorers remains a hopelessly schizophrenic film, obscenely eager to compromise its own originality.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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