67
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThe A.V. ClubKeith PhippsA sweet, unabashedly corny, matinee-friendly science-fiction adventure starring Lance Guest as a trailer-park videogame prodigy, and Robert Preston as the alien who recruits him to save the day from some space-baddies.
- 75TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineClever, exciting, and fun, The Last Starfighter boasts good performances by Guest and Preston, and a literate, funny script that highlights the real story: not the space war that only Guest can win but the difficulty of leaving home, family, and security for a totally new life when the opportunity presents itself.
- 70The New York TimesLawrence Van GelderThe New York TimesLawrence Van GelderThough it is occasionally talky, and though its plot takes a while to crank up, The Last Starfighter, directed by Nick Castle, is more often than not good-humored, bent on action and even touching. [13 July 1984, p.C5]
- 70Washington PostGary ArnoldWashington PostGary ArnoldAt once warmly earthbound and nobly starstruck, it should give receptive spectators a savory pick-me-up. [13 July 1984, p.E1]
- 70NewsweekDavid AnsenNewsweekDavid AnsenDirector Castle has studied his Spielberg well. While the movie may be composed of borrowed parts, it remains bouncy and good-natured throughout. Guest has charm and a deft comic touch, and Stewart is lovely as his girl. [30 July 1984, p.80]
- 63Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertThe Last Starfighter is a well-made movie. The special effects are competent. The acting is good, and I enjoyed Robert Preston's fast-talking The Music Man reprise (we've got trouble, right here in the galaxy) and the gentle wit of Dan O'Herlihy's extraterrestrial. But the final spark was missing, the final burst of inspiration that might have pulled all these concepts and inspirations and retreads together into a good movie.
- 50Miami HeraldMiami HeraldVideo-game-come-true plot is corny, but somehow it works. [13 July 1984, p.D10]