Looking back at my childhood, I have very fond memories of going to the cinema with my dad. My first theatrical experience was Superman II and man did it take my breath away. I’ve been hooked on movies ever since. Naturally having kids of my own, I wanted to introduce to them the magic of venturing off to a specific place where we can escape for two hours and go on a unique type of an adventure, the kind that can’t be replicated via even the greatest home theatre system. In a time where more and more kids are exposed to movies via a computer monitor and/or a phone, I wanted to at least acquaint them to the alternative. That also goes with films themselves.

In my opinion, the 80’s gave birth to the finest era of family entertainment, ones that even adults can enjoy equally. Amblin Entertainment which was founded by iconic filmmaker Steven Spielberg and Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall gave birth to many of the greatest including The Goonies, Gremlins, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the Back to the Future trilogy, to name a few. They were fun yet realized the importance of a good story and characters we can relate with. They also had an edge to them. Characters cussed and the threat packed enough punch that even the most fantastical of storylines felt grounded. As time went by, Hollywood has watered family films to the point where parents cringe at the mere idea of having to not only spend their hard-earned money towards them but worse; have to devote time to something they can’t connect with. After a long drought Writer/Director J. J. Abrams teamed up with Amblin to make the 2011 nostalgia-filled charmer Super 8. It successfully recreated the feel of that company’s earlier work.

In 2010, Writer/Director Jalmari Helander made his feature debut with the strange and darkly comedic Christmas cult classic Rare Exports. With its impressive technical attributes, Helander emerged as a talent to keep an eye on. For his sophomore feature Big Game there is no doubt he’s the real deal. Set in the Finnish wilderness, thirteen year old Oskari’s (Rare Exports’ Onni Tommila) rite-of-passage expedition is derailed when he encounters an Air Force One escape pod with the shaken President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson). With a group of terrorists at his tail, Oskari is the President’s only chance of survival. Big Game is an action-thriller in the tradition of Die Hard and Cliffhanger — only it’s geared towards the entire family. This is textbook mainstream screenwriting at its most effective. The story, characterizations and themes are simple yet clearly defined. The two lead characters have an arc and it’s perfectly-executed from point A to B. Everything here has a purpose to the overall scheme of things. These are qualities you find in early Spielberg productions. Who said dumb fun can’t be smart?

Like the most memorable protagonists, the character of Oskari rises to the occasion but not without a personal journey of self-doubt to overcome. His conflict is the heart of the picture. The extremely likeable Onni Tommila nails this arc to the tee. Samuel L. Jackson is rock solid as well. It’s refreshing to see a portrayal of the President where he isn’t action-inclined. That vulnerability along with Oskari’s only helps to strengthen the threat, here played convincingly by Ray Stevenson (Punisher: War Zone) and Mehmet Kurtulus (The Tunnel). The wonderfully chemistry between Tommila and Jackson is the main reason why you are invested in the story. Onni and his real life dad Jorma Tommila once again play father and son, as they did in Rare Exports. While their relationship takes a backseat on this outing, it’s still integral especially to the development of Oskari. There is ample support from the veteran cast that includes Jim Broadbent (Cloud Atlas), Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs), Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) and Victor Garber (Argo). Big Game proves that fine, committed performances can draw the viewer in despite the material being familiar territory.

This is a seriously well put-together action pic. Big Game apparently cost just north 11.5 mil US and if that’s the case: wow! The stunning Bavaria, Germany backdrop gives the film an incredible sense of scale. The wide shots take advantage of the majestic vista. The ambitious visual effects are impressive to say the least, worthy of a tentpole blockbuster. The film doesn’t have an abundance of action set-pieces and may take a tad longer to get to them than it probably should have but what we do get is expertly mounted. With a limited budget, Helander understands that the most involving action sequences are the ones derived organically. The action beats here serve the narrative flow, as well as being character-motivated. Big Game is nicely paced. There is a great build-up to the third act. Once Helander kicks things into high gear, the action is gleefully fun and imaginative. It all pays off satisfyingly in the film’s balls-out, nutty conclusion. These scenes are beautifully photographed, packed with the kind of carefully designed, memorable imagery that graced the action films of the 80’s and 90’s. It’s also refreshing to see a director not feel the urge to cut these moments to pieces. All the more admirable considering this is an indie production.

Big Game feels like a long-lost Amblin title. It’s an absolute charmer, the kind of PG-13 fare that will appeal to audiences of all ages. Like the kid-oriented flicks from the 80’s, there’s enough edge and cleverness to the violence to satisfy adults. Nothing here comes across as a cop out. Helander is a seriously first-rate craftsman. It’s just a matter of time before Hollywood comes knocking on his door. Big Game appealed to the kid in me. Very few movies nowadays achieve that. This captures that contagious fun factor and heart that made me fall smitten with the cinema to begin with. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing it again with my boys on the big screen.