Episode 109: Flight of the Navigator (1986)

Compliance! We’re taking to the skies with the 1986 family sci-fi spectacular Flight of the Navigator from director Randal Kleiser.

12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer) walks through the woodlands near his Florida home to bring his irritating little brother back home before it gets dark. Instead, after losing consciousness due to a fall, David returns to his home only to find that his parents are no longer there – eight years have passed, without David having aged a day. When NASA scientists discover a mysterious silver ship, it becomes apparent that the two events are connected, and they bring the boy into their research facility. The ship seems to call to David, leading to a visually stunning thrill ride across the planet.

Devlin, Patrick and Matt reflect on a childhood TV staple, discussing the film’s impressive and in some cases pioneering visual effects, the era-defining mix of buccaneering tween adventure melancholy-tinged drama, and the surprisingly heavy themes among all the Paul Reubens intergalactic improv.

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