Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star (1986)
Article 5879 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 11-1-2020
Directed by Peter R. Hunt
Featuring Dennis Holahan, Sydney Penny, Rosie Marcel
Country: Canada / USA
What it is: Family-friendly Sci-Fi

When a colony of humanoid aliens hidden on the moon decide not to let the people of Earth know of their existence, two children from the colony disagree and stow away to Earth to prove their point. Complications arise.

This family-friendly science fiction film doesn’t have much of a reputation (a 4.7 rating on IMDB at the time of this writing), but I rather like it. Not that the movie doesn’t have its share of problems; it’s slow-moving and has several awkward touches (not least of which is the distracting big hair of the alien children). But I rather like the gentleness and sincerity of the movie. I also am impressed with the children’s pet Kirbi, a truly alien-looking being with three legs and three eyes brought to life through animatronics. I also love Keenan Wynn’s performance as the eccentric grandfather who develops a friendship for the pet; it was his last role, and handles it well, especially in a long monologue directed at the creature. These touches helped me to forgive somewhat some of the movie’s weaknesses.