Maika the Girl From Another Galaxy
In its bones, Ham Tran’s “Maika the Girl From Another Galaxy” (though inspired by a Czech TV series from the ’70s) is in the vein of just about every family film that came after “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” where a lonely kid befriends an alien. But there’s a personal aspect that seems woven in right away in this film, and that’s where this film succeeds. Because it isn’t just about the adventures of Hung and Maika, this film has a heart to it that allows us to accept how silly it is.
The film opens with a story being told about the stars. It is a story Hung’s mother has told him many times; she is dying, though, and now, his father is going to have to step up. But like many father-son relationships in movies, they just don’t have that strong of a connection. His father is a phone repairman, and Hung spends his days flying his toy plane around; the plane has an inscription from his mother, but he has a bully with a drone to contend with when it’s in the air. A meteor shower happens not long afterwards, but while his father promised to take him, he is unable to, and Hang goes alone. More than just meteors land, though; an alien, whom will be named Maika, needs help finding her friend. Hang is ready and willing to do so.
At 105 minutes, “Maika the Girl From Another Galaxy” is overlong, and involves a subplot with someone trying to buy the building Hung and his father live in that gets wedged into the larger story, but only pads the running time, and doesn’t add anything to the narrative. The center of this story is Hung, Maika and the father, and that’s where this film feels most at home. Yes, the visual effects are a bit cheesy, but like the “Spy Kids” movies, that low-tech quality to them is part of the charm. We feel as though we’re watching a film through the memories of childhood, and there are some wonderful shots- especially when we’re following Hang’s plane early on- that entertain us, as well as feel like we’re seeing something through the eyes of a child. The film also has a dedication to Tran’s mother, and it’s the feeling of loss that Hung has for his own mother that gives this film an emotional center, especially when father and son are struggling to connect, and us a reason to care. I may not watch it again, but I’m glad I watched it once; it’s a winner.
