L'Appel du Météore

When Jim Carrey signed up to play in "The Majestic" he wanted to show audiences that he could play a more serious role. I thought that he did an excellent job at doing just that, but the script lacked and so the movie flopped. In "Pete's Meteor" Mike Myers faces the same doom. I respect an actor that wants to show his range, in fact that's the reason why I saw this film, but unfortunately a lot of that success depends on the script that the actor has been given. Mike Myers plays Pete, a former drug dealer that has to pay off old debts and wants to help his late-friend's children at the same time. I thought that Myers did an excellent job acting and of course his terrific range with accents, and I definitely believe that he deserves more serious, dramatic role opportunities. I was quite disappointed that Myers wasn't in this movie more, and sadly I was more sympathetic towards the scientist in this film that just never seems to get a break. Only near the end does Myers get the chance to shine. So be warned, this script is lacking and the movie drags much of the time, but is worth a watch if only to see Myers.

The only reason for me for watching this little known Irish film was the question could Mike Myers have played a normal, dramatic character. Well, he could and his acting was pretty good but unfortunately that was probably the only good thing that I can say about this film. In the beginning film follows life of twelve years old orphan Mickey who lives with his brother and sister with their somewhat eccentric grandma. Despite some strong language it looks like a family film but after a while it becomes clearly that Pete's Meteor is a hardly suitable for young audience drama. And the worst is that it is a drama with so much ridiculous and even totally implausible plot. One preposterous story line turns into another and all the time there is no much sense in the events on screen. I suppose when a life drama needs a meteor or what is more something that looks like even more ridiculous spiritual content that's a really bad sign. The characters are not much better than a story. Despite all his troubles young Mickey by no means is not a likable character but it's clearly was somehow we were supposed to care about him and even feel strong sympathy to him. It doesn't work. The same thing with other characters. They are mostly as ridiculous as the story itself with the title character (although he wasn't the main character) as the only bright spot. Towards the end of the movie I still had a strong hope that there is something behind of all that improbability and absurdity. Unfortunately even if the writer of the story had such intentions (and I'm sure he had) in the film they are hidden and practically imperceptible under such a weird script.

Grade: 3 out of 10. Those of you who are interested in seeing Mike Myers as a drama actor can watch Pete's Meteor for that reason but the rest of viewers most likely will be bitterly disappointed.

This was an overall enjoyable little ditty that kept me entertained throughout. I guess I wasn't expecting much from it, but I was pleasantly surprised. The movie seemed to protray what life is like in Ireland, especially in the hard knock areas. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a nice little jaunt through the life and times of a tough little 12-year-old who makes you hate him and love him at the same time.

It's got one of the biggest stars in Hollywood doing a surprisingly good Irish accent, a wildly original plot and it's set in one of the world's hippest cities. So why has it waited so long to find a distributer? Mike Myers shows he's not just capable of high camp in this story of a working-class Dublin kid who finds a meteor in his back garden only to have it's potential as a tourist attraction robbed by a woosy university geologist. Myers plays a friend of the kid's sister who is held responsible for her death by the family, and who clashed with the geologist over the family's future. It's a tender, funny story that often sinks into sentimentalism and isn't consistently competent in the thespian department, but surely deserves an audience outside the Irish film festival circuit.

Micky, Sue and Dave lost their parents and have to live with their grandmother Lily, who gets frustrated easily and may even have a drinking problem. Micky (who narrates occasionally) gets into trouble a lot and is even told he might get sent to an orphanage. For example, he steals a car even though he doesn't seem to be old enough to drive, and he pulls a knife on Pete, who promised to raise the kids after their parents died but was never able to do it. Pete was always running with a bad crowd and, though he no longer deals and has a job, his past threatens to catch up with him. This affects his relationship with Mary. Also, Micky blames Pete for his parents' death.

When a meteor falls in their back yard, the kids think it was sent by their parents, who the kids believe are watching over them from the stars. Hugh, the scientist who studies the meteor, thinks it came from Mars, but his girlfriend Carmel isn't particularly impressed with the discovery. The kids want to keep the meteor but the law says it belongs to the government. Hugh later becomes a friend to the children (though with friends like Micky, who needs enemies?).

This started out to be a family film, though somewhat edgy. The worst thing was the cursing, and I didn't even hear the cursing but only references to it. Later, someone's mouth moved and nothing came out, so this must have been edited. But later, the film was too violent to really qualify as family fare.

The film was at its best when the focus was Micky, and the title didn't even make since because it was Micky's meteor. Later, the focus shifted to Pete and the film turned darker, though the title eventually was explained. There were a few funny moments, but this wasn't really a comedy. There was a sweet fantasy scene involving a telescope.

Mike Myers did an adequate job as Pete, but comic roles are more his style. Alfred Molina effectively showed passion for his work and for the kids. Ian Costello was okay as Micky.

Aside from the fact that it turned darker than it had to be, my only real criticisms of the film were the strange whispering and breathing noises (like an Enya song) that must have been the kids' parents, and the strong accents that made it difficult to understand anything (thought the film WAS Irish).