Every movie has rules. These are generally included to tell you what you need to believe in order to suspend disbelief and enjoy the movie. "Gremlins" probably has one of the more memorable rule sets in movie history and even though it doesn't really stick to them, it's still one of the best things to come out of the 80's.
Randall Peltezer (Hoyt Axton) doesn't know what to buy his son for Christmas until he stumble into a small shop in Chinatown. There he finds one of the most unique animals he's ever seen, a Mogwai. Even after he explains the conditions of owning the own pet, Billy (Zach Galligan) makes a few mistakes and soon the small town is overrun by beer drinking, cookie eating, chainsaw wielding little critters (with a knack for electrical equipment) hell bent on taking out every person who has made the city home.
"Gremlins" is split into two parts. At first the cute factor is almost nauseating and then, as if on cue, the film makes the foreshadowed turn into one of the most viscous PG-rated movies of all time. Still, it never forgets that it's a comedy, which offsets some of the more violent sequences.
A mix of puppetry and animatronics (with a brief scene of stop motion), the special effects are just superb. Their design is decent enough, but once they begin moving, each one of the little green guys takes on a personality. Gizmo, obviously the real star of the movie and the only mogwai not to morph into the deadly stage, gets a lot of screen time and his expressive face goes through every conceivable emotion. Some of the deaths are great as well. You'll never forget where you were the first time you seen a monster get chopped up in a blender or an old woman get thrown out of her house in a motorized chair.
This one does have a few stumbling points. I've never understood why Phoebe Cates tells the story of her father's death. Not only does it seem to come from nowhere (though it is touched upon earlier), but it's dark and depressing as well. Then of course the three rules are broken multiple times. If the gremlins multiply when they either drink water or get wet, why do they have no trouble with beer? Shouldn't the light of the movie theater playing "Snow White" be too bright? Finally and most obviously, if they can't eat after midnight, when can they eat?
Regardless, it's obvious in every frame that Joe Dante and his crew had lots of fun making this one. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot some cameos including producer Steven Spielberg and Chuck Jones of Looney Tunes fame. In the end, it's hard to ask for more than "Gremlins" hands out. (**** out of *****)
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