User reviews

There are plenty of versions of the story behind the ending of the ALF series and this 1996 TV movie: some claim that the cliffhanger finale was a final bid for the show to remain on the air; some claim the film is an extended rendition of a single final episode planned all along; and yet more people claim the movie is the result of an uphill battle by creators Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett after being shafted out of plans to conclude the series more satisfactorily. In the end, the only concrete fact is that the film was released almost a full six years after the TV show concluded, to tremendous fan expectations, and then it didn't turn out all that great. I'm not the biggest ALF fan in the world, but even I have to admit that a lot was lost during the transition of serial to feature.

The story: Held by the Alien Task Force for six years following his capture, Alf's death is plotted by an obsessed colonel (Martin Sheen) but thwarted by two military scientists (William O'Leary and Jensen Daggett) who smuggle him out of the facility to bring him to safety.

The biggest disappointment of the film? - no Tanner family. Anyone who's researched the show will know all about the mixed feelings with which the human cast regarded their stay, but while their absence isn't really surprising on a deductive level, the film suffers from it nevertheless. Max Wright, Anne Shedeen, Andrea Elson, and Benji Gregory were as much of a part of the ALF franchise as the alien himself, yet they're afforded only a minute's exposition early in the film before being forgotten completely. Alf doesn't even mention them, which is particularly disappointing considering the bond the characters formed over four years. I don't want to sound too sappy, but it eats at me that Alf was apparently able to get over the people he once referred to as "my Tanners." The characters replacing them aren't awful but pretty unmemorable: William O'Leary and Jensen Daggett are neutrally likable, but not only don't they sell the reactions to Alf's shenanigans nearly as well as Wright or Shedeen ever did, it's never quite clear why they're helping Alf. The Tanners struggled through their frustrating tenure via a mixture of family support and underlying affection cultivated over a matter of years, but O'Leary and Daggett apparently just have an inherent goodness of heart and know-how to endure Alf in situations wherein he's previously sent other outsiders screaming from the room. I don't buy it.

Where the writing is concerned, the show retains creators Fusco's and Patchett's trademark humor: one-liners and pop culture references abound, branching out to Alf's first gay joke and some death-related humor. Alf's cat obsession is revived for the sake of a couple jokes. The main agenda of the film seems to be giving Alf a chance to interact openly with a greater number of people and injecting a defined antagonist into the picture - something the series didn't have (or particularly need). The surprise and novelty of seeing Alf barb with humans outside of the Tanner household is short-lived, as most folks (with the ironic exception of Ray Walston) seem to get over his being an alien pretty quickly. Sheen gives a fun, hammy performance but his character just isn't worth the movie; if Alf needed a nemesis, it definitely ought to be someone more interesting than this goof. Where the technical aspects are concerned, the film doesn't try anything new: having a bigger budget than a weekly TV show seems like it would've been a good opportunity for Alf to do something physically out of the ordinary, but the most you get is seeing him spun around in a chair. You'd think that director Dick Lowry would've tried for something bigger than that.

When judged on its own terms, PROJECT ALF doesn't really do anything wrong but it doesn't get too many things right, either. I consider it a way-too-late attempt to salvage a poorly-executed finale. Paul Fusco probably did all he could, but being away from his core franchise for so long likely took its toll on his creativity. I'm not sure whether to recommend this for die-hard fans, so watch at your own risk.

Six years after the series "ALF" was canceled after the fourth season, leaving us with a cliffhanger, the authors decided to pack the story set for the fifth season into a TV movie. On the one hand, I am pleased that the story is rounded up, on the other, they did not particularly bother to do it right. The complete original cast disappeared without a trace, and Alf, although standardly good, can not outweigh all the other aspects of the movie that are quite lame. While nostalgia is struggling with disappointment, I will rate it

6/10

It is such a shame that person who wrote the lines for ALF didnt write in the same vain for the rest of the cast. The bits that ALF is in are good and are worth watching , especially when he is having the tests. The rest is not worth watching.Kids of the younger age would like this and thats about the best i can say about this film. What on earth was Martin Sheen thinking about when he took on this role? from Apocolypse Now to Project Alf!!!! 6 out of 10

There is no bigger fan of ALF the T.V. Series than myself- I realize Paul Fusco was a big fan having created the series however I never would have allowed this stink-filled script to destroy the laugh filled memories of the Alf Franchise.

The first couple of minutes between Alf and Beverly Archer(Harriette Byrd in past episodes) was funny but then the film isn't about Alf so much as Military abuse of authority and the love story of two young Doctors who befriend Alf while he is in captivity with the Alien Task Force. The story line is beyond awful and filled with straight line after straight line. The rest of the original cast is gone- and how many laughs did we get from Max Wrights' dead pan deliveries and exaggerated befuddlement?

There were so many alternative stories after the final T.V. episode why Fusco chose the worst possible direction is beyond me (maybe he was hanging with Jerry Stahl at the time of conceiving this project)

I say to anyone who in later years discovers the Alf television show to stay away from this movie- it is lame unfunny and a pile of steaminess. I compare it to the let down of Highlander 2- it's that very very very bad.

Years after the TV series Alf is being held in a military base undergoing a series of tests. The fate of Alf comes up before committee with Milfoil (Martin Sheen), Mulican (O'Leary) and Hill (Daggett) debating his future. Milfoil wants Alf incinerated Hill and Mulican want him to have human rights. Mulican decides to take matters into his own hands forcing the others to smuggle him out of the base and go on the run.

The film is not a work of art and is basically a silly excuse for laughs. And it is funny - a lot more than you'd think. The whole film plays with it's tongue in it's cheek - it knows not to take itself seriously. Alf may not be everyone's cup of tea but he is generally funny with his wise cracking - although several moments aren't funny and he can get quite annoying at times. The humans all play their parts well - Martin Sheen hams it up well and gets some good laughs while O'Leary and Daggett play their roles as Alf's straightmen well - and it's always good to see Miguel Ferrer (playing Dexter Moyers) as a bad guy in another small film! Special mention for Rocket the sarcastic robot who wins many of the laughs towards the end.

The plot may not be up to much but at least it tries - it has some twists that are obvious from the start, but that's not really what this is about. Everything about this is a setup for Alf to make jokes and wise cracks, and in that respect it does pretty well. Good support from Sheen, O'Leary and Daggett help along the way - Sheen in particular getting good laughs.

Word of warning - if you're not in the mood for Alf then don't watch this, wait until you want to laugh at silly jokes and then you'll like this.

Alf is a good comedy, but it is definitely WAY behind the series, maybe because of the lack of the original characters. They were WAY funnier and the series in general, too. The only funny character of this TV-movie is Alf and the only good part is the first 20 minutes.

I am a kinda fan of the series, but this one cannot stand up to it at any part of it.

All in all, I rated this movie 6/10. I recommend it to fans of the series.

When I stumbled upon this 1996 TV movie titled "Project: ALF" and seeing that ALF was on the cover, there simply was no doubt about the fact that I had to watch this movie. I actually didn't know that they made a movie with ALF, and I used to watch the TV series on TV when I was a kid and totally loving it.

Writers Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco put together a very enjoyable script for the movie, and I was genuinely entertained throughout the 95 minutes that the movie ran for. And it was a blast from the past, revisiting with everyone's favorite Melmacian after all these years.

And not only did "Project: ALF" have a good and enjoyable storyline, but it also had a great cast ensemble. It was nice to see the likes of William O'Leary and Jensen Daggett in the leading roles, and having support appearances from the likes of Miguel Ferrer, Charles Robinson, Gregory Alan Williams, Ed Begley Jr., Ray Walston and Ray Walston. So you definitely are in the company of good performers here. And of course, the iconic voice of Paul Fusco lending his voice to ALF, that was just a trip down memory lane.

"Project: ALF" is a fun movie to watch for the entire family, but definitely a hilarious movie to sit down and watch for us that grew up watching ALF the TV series.

If you don't know who ALF is, then definitely take the time to sit down and watch "Project: ALF", if you get the chance.

My rating of director Dick Lowry's 1996 TV movie "Project: ALF" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

Every generation has beared witness to a landmark film which has changed the course of movie making forever, for mine it was Project Alf. For what may appear to be a simple, perhaps lackluster film, only made to profit further from the television programme. To a real film critic turns out to be an advenure through the emotions, which will result in days of digestion, as only then will one truly understand and appreciate the artistry involved. Alfs acting is impecable, making the question of what ever happened to him and his career in hollywood a daunting one in the mind of the viewer. I last heard that he was doing missionary work in the Amazon - however that is only hearsay. So to the person who has taken the time to read my column on Project Alf (most probably Kev), I hope that you have benefited and take time to see the film, over and over again. A must See !!!!!

Alf made a huge success as series aired here in mid-eighties, on prime time on TV, apart this significative issue, this picture never see the light as official release, I've my own on DVD-R from internet's dealer, an amazing production where they got to rid off the Tanner's family to offer something fresh, so Alf was taken by US's Army top secret complex, to study process, but they don't counted with your skills to abduction of all soldiers on this place, he makes everything, air conditioning on his private room, poker game, wheel of fortune and has an selling VHS in advance time, all sorts of things as CD's, socks among others things, he has his tight schedule to each daytime, including a time lunch that starts at 12.00 until 15.00, including pizza delivery at night, anyway he control all process, until a Colonel Milfoil played by Martin Sheen who suggest eliminate the dangerous Alien, two Officers saves Alf kidnaping him to another safe hideout, the gags are great as shown on the series, his jokes are smart and acids, his behavior is friendly than annoying, I really love this amusing character created by Paul Fusco, this movie is extremely underrated !!!

Resume:

First watch: 2013 / How many: 3 / Source: DVD-R / Rating: 7.5

Project: Alf. The most surprising thing about this movie is that it was made in 1996, when I believe (according to U.S. census data) a total of 5 people remembered the TV show. Well, what can you say. That wisecracking alien from Melmac is back for more in this laugh-out-loud comedy starring some actors, with notable appearances by Ed Begley, Jr. (a made-for-tv kind of guy) and Martin Sheen as the evil anti-Alf character. I also did notice the guy who plays the underhand scientist Moyers is the same guy who gives the kid the blank check in the classic "Blank Check." The plot goes like this: Bad military guys want to kill Alf for some reason, and good military guys help him escape. Along the way is the expected hilarity involving Alf interracting with humans. There is also some kind of weird romantic sub-plot involving the two good military people, a man and woman (good news for you homophobes out there). This romance ends with the guy asking his girlfriend (a superior officer) "Permission to discuss that over dinner....?" Writing just don't get no cleverer than that. Overall, a good movie. If anything, watch it for the classic line where the good military guy, responding to the accusation that Alf had caused over 300 fires in the Tanner house, says "I object! The actual number was 264, and most of those were barbecue-related."

Very dark. So dark that you suspect there is a motive behind that darkness. And that's good. In 1996, you thought you had it all seen before. Corrupt politicians. Ruthless bureaucrats. Indecent tax collectors. The 90s TV show The X-Files chewed on all those modern abominations. And that's exactly why this Alf Movie feels so extremely dark. Because it's TV predecessor never did. Alf was constantly surrounded by a happy-go-lucky family, borderline-stupid. How do you go from a superficial, joke-absorbing sponge of a family to a CIA that tortures the alien Alf ? Not by accident. It's a reminder that virtually all people are scum. Don't get distracted by their stupidity. If people encounter the tiniest impacts on their meaningless lives, they form groups, groups they have been part of all along really, exclude and harm outsiders, and genuinely cannot tell what's wrong with that. The more reason to stay vigilant, as an outsider like alien Alf. People don't understand that they are ticking time bombs. They won't spill that fact. You have to figure that out for yourself. The Ten-ner's won't. Say-ten won't reveal that. They are always happy because they are stupid. Ten out of ten, at all times. Now imagine this dark movie sequel with an Alf tortured by the CIA didn't exist. It would intentionally mislead the viewer. Not allowed. The movie needed to be funded, no matter what.

ALF was a milestone in the history of television, a show so funny and so great writing-wise that it simply could not be topped with any kind of continuation story, and Project ALF sure shows why is it so in full.

The abrupt ending of the 4th season of ALF has been in debate to be one of the worst endings in television series but it managed to get a TV movie six years later to wrap up ALF's story the way it was (maybe) meant to be - considering the writers of the movie were the same as those who wrote the show - but in the end it turned out clumsy and too over the top.

Martin Sheen's character is a bitter and vengeful person but he's a laughing stock and his character not only seems cartoonish but lacks its overall credibility. On the opposite, Miguel Ferrer's character is a bitter and vengeful person who won't stop at anything too but in contrast to most movie villains he really has the stamina to do so and he really shows it in the movie; maybe that's why he's billed first in the opening credits. The only one who didn't disappoint (and I'm sure he never will) is Paul Fusco and his ALF is still that same ALF we instantly fell in love with since he first laid on the table in the Tanners' house, charming, witty and very very funny. He really brightened the movie's bland atmosphere and got it as far as it could.

I can watch ALF a millionth time and still be laughing my head off and be amazed at how good this show was and is but I doubt this movie stood the test of time as gracefully. I am pleased nevertheless to have Project ALF as the story's closure and not some reboot/remake kind that we have in abundance nowadays.

This movie is hilarious. It is, however, what it is. It's an ALF movie! People critique it like they're comparing it to Gone With the Wind or Godfather or Pulp Fiction. It's ALF!! If you're a fan of the original series, you're likely coming looking for that style of humor and yes, you'll find it here. Fans like us will get our funny bones tickled a little extra, seeing our friend in his full length feature film instead of the usual 22 minute episodes that we all know and love. Unplug your brain, relax your senses for a while and laugh like you're a kid again and you won't regret it with this film. I especially recommend it if you're hoping to create lasting memories with your own child/children so that they can look back on all the wonderfulness that is ALF. 😊

Alf is fantastic!He is funny,unique,adorable,cute and a lot more...I love him cause he can make me laugh even at the worst time maybe cause he is an alien from another planet.The movie is great too and the actors and the plot,i do not know how you cannot adore Alf...I hope another movie comes along.....SEE IT!!!!!!!

I am one of the biggest fan of this series -even though it got canceled before I could even spell ALF. Together with 3rd Rock From The Sun and Catherine (Canadian Sitcom) this is one of the great series of all times. Thanks to the releases of the DVDs I was able to watch the entire series again -this time in its original language... I am a Spanish native-speaker by the way- and was kinda of disappointed to find that the series ended in such a low note with ALF getting captured and all. Then I learned that they had made an ALF movie 6 years after the show went off the air. I immediately got to the task of downloading the movie -which was not easy- and today I finally watched it.

The movie is great. It would have been perfect if The Tanners -or at least Willie- have been on it, but despite the absence of the original cast -though the voice of ALF is the same- the movie is great. It will make you laugh. I have read the reviews and other comments that people on this website have made about the film and I am not surprised to hear some people b***ing and moaning about the film and saying how great the show was and how bad the movie is... blah blah blah. DO NOT listen to those people. DO NOT expect to come across a 1 1/2 hour episode-like film either because you will be disappointed then.

Other than that you can just lay down on your couch, get some popcorn and some refreshing drink, enjoy the movie and find out what ever happened to that funny, adorable-and-at-the-same-time-annoying alien from the planet Melmac who sadly got captured by the US government back in 1990. Best wishes to everyone. Cheers.

This movie, even if it doesn't have a lot of things happening IS funny. And its Alf that makes it funny. The whole movie should be listed in the 'quotes' section. The acting is not that bad but you can see from the start on what the movie is concentrated. The directing is not much of a problem and its easy to keep track of the story. Also, i just now figured out (as i watched the movie) how funnier Alf looks when he's shown completely and not just above the waist. Kinda does more to his character if you ask me. If yo liked the show you will love this movie because the jokes are mostly the same type (Alfs one-liners and sarcasm). If you have the chance to see this movie- do it, if you have the chance to buy it - do it. For me, it belongs among the ones listed as 'all time favorites' or 'classics'.

What's cool about this movie is we get to see what happens to Alf after he was capture by the Alien Task Force.

He's been imprisoned by the Military for over 5 years. He's gone through a lot of Doctors and tests. Besides those he's living it easy with the best jail cell that even he would live in.

But when the plans for him to be eliminated have been ordered that's when 2 young military cadets made a plan to save his life.

It's different from the TV series, and the Tanners are absent in this one. but you'll learn what had happened to them when you watch it. Which is one of the reasons why most fans hate it. But at least Alf is in it which counts and still worth seeing.

There's still plenty of laughs, Alf is still a smart mouth Melmacian, and still has an appetite for cats. It even ends in a good yet funny ending for our furry idol.

I rank this movie 8/10.

This movie is....uh......like.......the BEST!!! The adorable alien called ''Alf'' which may I add has a huge appetite, adds laughter throughout the whole movie. While scientists study his abilities, one sneaky man is trying to dose him with a medicine that can kill him! Only two officers have the guts to rescue him or his doomed! From there on the movie gets more interesting and more hilarious then ever.

I loved this movie, but my friend Tim thought it was unestablished.I thought it was mediocre but well deserving of a replay on ABC in 1996 in July.ALF promoted his movie on ABC's TGIF the night before.I could go on forever, but I won't.

This ALF film is a direct continuation of the series finale and is simply told from an interesting perspective. The Tanners are missing a lot, but the leeway for thinking about what happened to them adds some exciting miles of light to the ALF universe. The story is told in an exciting way, ALF is always not fun and the pacing is wonderful for such a film. The movie doesn't quite come close to the series, but it is definitely a nice and so far final addition. Definitely worth seeing and by no means as bad as it is often done.

Funniest movie in the world!! Matron..the pills.....! My house is covered in foil....aghh they're after me......you are all after me...

AAAGAGHH