Co-writer/co-director Daley Pearson is perhaps best known for his work developing the original story for the 2022 hit horror film, “Talk to Me,” and he’s credited as a producer on the smash television show “Bluey.” He aims to channel elements of family entertainment and slight genre intensity for “Allen,” joining co-helmer Jeffrey Walker for this homage to Steven Spielberg’s 1982 masterpiece, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” blended with just a touch of aggressive mischief found in 1984’s “Gremlins.” Pearson hoses the whole thing down in ‘90s nostalgia, but he has an idea concerning a special friendship between a 10-year-old boy and an alien visitor that takes a few interesting directions during the run time. And there’s a slight escalation into comedic anarchy, but “Allen” isn’t out to upset anyone, with the offering attempting to be as approachable as possible, which spoils the potential for madcap comedy, but delivers a lightly entertaining story of emotional distress. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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