Enemy Mine – the alien Bromance classic (movie retrospective).
Back in the heady days of the mid-80s, when neon and shoulder pads reigned supreme, along came Enemy Mine, a film that asked the daring question: “What happens when a human and an alien, sworn enemies, get stuck on a desolate planet together?” The answer, it turns out, was essentially the same as what happens when any two bickering frenemies get stranded together: they bond over their shared hatred of the local wildlife, trade barbed insults, and, of course, start a family. Classic sci-fi stuff, right?
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen (yes, the Das Boot guy – because clearly submarines and space are interchangeable), Enemy Mine set out to be a deep, philosophical meditation on war, prejudice, and the human condition. Instead, what we got was essentially an intergalactic buddy film – with a side order of alien childbirth. Oh yes, if you thought this was just another Star Wars knock-off, think again. There’s a whole lot of unexpected weirdness packed into its 108-minute runtime, and we’re going to dissect it with all the love and exasperation it deserves.
Dennis Quaid and Lou Gossett Jr.: Space Odd Couple
Let’s talk about our stars. Dennis Quaid plays Davidge, a hot-headed fighter pilot who spends the first half of the film being aggressively, well, Dennis Quaid-ish. He scowls, yells, and generally acts like the galaxy’s least pleasant neighbour. Then there’s Louis Gossett Jr., who somehow manages to deliver a fantastic performance despite being covered in prosthetics that make him look like a distant cousin of a Ninja Turtle. Gossett’s Drac, known as Jeriba Shigan (or simply Jerry because of course), is a walking lesson in space philosophy and patience – mainly because he spends a good portion of the film trying not to murder Davidge with his bare, reptilian hands.
The two crash-land on an uninhabited planet after dogfighting in space, and what follows is the slowest burn bromance in sci-fi history. Davidge and Jerry learn to tolerate each other’s company – largely through the magic of awkward fishing trips and shared disgust for the hostile alien planet, which looks suspiciously like someone forgot to finish designing it.
When the Real Drama Starts: Alien Parenting 101
Just when you think Enemy Mine couldn’t get any more “out there,” Jerry reveals that his species reproduces asexually, which, naturally, means he’s pregnant. Yes, you read that right: space’s least likely duo has to deal with an alien pregnancy. And in true macho sci-fi fashion, this is all handled with the emotional sensitivity of two dudes who’d rather be fighting but, instead, find themselves reading interspecies parenting books.
The baby Drac, Zammis, is born, and suddenly the film pivots from being about enemies learning to coexist to being about… fatherhood? The human soldier who was shooting down Dracs 30 minutes ago is now dad, which, to be fair, is quite the plot twist. And it’s here the movie asks the audience to seriously engage with deep themes of nurturing and overcoming hate, while also asking them to accept Dennis Quaid cooing over an alien toddler. Bold move.
The Villains Are (Somehow) Worse Than Space
Because no 80s sci-fi epic would be complete without a one-dimensional villain, we get a bunch of space slavers who show up in the final act. Their sole purpose seems to be reminding Davidge that the real enemy isn’t some alien race, but humans themselves. How profound. And just when you thought the movie couldn’t get more sentimental, Davidge leads a daring rescue mission to free Zammis from these cardboard-cut-out baddies.
A Tale As Old As Time – Or, Maybe Not
Looking back, Enemy Mine is the film equivalent of a fever dream you half-remember – equal parts bizarre and unexpectedly touching, like a grumpy old man suddenly handing you a puppy. It’s hard to believe a film like this even got made, but it somehow works. Kind of. Maybe. The message about overcoming hatred is admirable, but it’s layered in so much oddity that it’s hard to take seriously. Still, you have to respect the audacity of a movie that tries to blend philosophical allegory, alien bromance, and space parenting into one wacky package.
So, what’s the lasting legacy of Enemy Mine? Did it change the way we look at alien-human relations? Not really. Did it spawn a franchise? Definitely not. But for those of us who watched it, it remains a gloriously weird entry in the sci-fi canon – proof that sometimes, the strangest ideas are the ones that stick with us the longest. And hey, if nothing else, it gave us the unforgettable image of Dennis Quaid singing lullabies to a lizard baby. That alone deserves a place in the annals of science fiction history.
If you’re in the mood for a film that’s equal parts heart-warming, head-scratching, and unintentionally hilarious, give Enemy Mine a watch. And remember: sometimes, your greatest enemy might just be your new best mate – especially if they’re carrying your future godchild.
Enemy Mine: not the sci-fi film we expected, but definitely the one we’ll never forget.
