When a greedy land developer threatens to tear down an old apartment complex, the tenants are offered bribes to relocate. But when a small group of residents (headed by a local café owner) refuse to leave, they get some much-needed help from two tiny UFO’s, dubbed “Fix-It’s”, who restore the building. Later on, a fire all but destroys the place, but the UFO’s once again come to the rescue, this time recruiting countless other “Fix-It’s” to speed up the process.
Originally intended for a storyline for the TV series Amazing Stories, Spielberg liked the idea so much he decided to turn it into a feature film. Seeing acting legends Cronyn and Tandy (married in real life) hard at work is a real treat. They’re both old pros who can add life to any role they take on. Tandy would go on to win the Oscar only a few years later for Driving Miss Daisy (1989). This is a fun-loving sci-fi comedy the whole family can enjoy. Exceptional special effects as well; the “Fix-It’s” were created by Industrial Lights and Magic (ILM).