Space Case

"It came to have a look around…and meet the natives." "It," in this case, would be a cute little "all computer space commuter" that looks like one of those '50s-style low-tech UFOs and sounds a lot like R2D2. Based on the 1986 picture book written by Edward Marshall and illustrated by James Marshall, the fully-animated Space Case opens with the eponymous little yellow saucer-like creature landing on Earth and hooking up with a bunch of strange looking aliens who travel door-to-door gathering candy with the apparently magical phrase "trick or treat." Asked to join the group, the "new kid" initially has a few problems with the Halloween routine (it unsuccessfully solicits a cat and a barbecue), but eventually catches on and ultimately follows one of the kids, Buddy McGee, to his house. The space critter spends the night and has an interesting breakfast with the McGees the following morning, before accompanying Buddy to school (where he saves the boy's curricular bacon by coming up with an impromptu space project--beaming extremely complicated math formulas on to the blackboard, thereby earning Buddy an A-), and finally parting with the promise to return for Christmas. Narrated by Christopher Lloyd, winsomely animated by Virginia Wilkos, and featuring toe-tappin' tunes by Scotty Huff and Robert Reynolds (whose music made Antarctic Antics [VL-3/01] such a hit), this lovable mini E.T. tale is highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)