Purple People Eater 1988 DVD

Storyline!

You’d have to be Scrooge to trash a picture that tries to instill in children the importance of imagination, determination, and appreciation of the elderly. At the same time “Purple People Eater 1988” (citywide) can’t safely be recommended to anyone over the age of 7, but it could conceivably be fun for second-graders or those younger.

Ned Beatty stars as a retiree who’s revitalized by his grandchildren (Neil Patrick Harris, Thora Birch) when they’re left in his charge by their vacationing parents (James Houghton, Peggy Lipton, one of the stars of “The Mod Squad” series). Harris’ 12-year-old Billy is a dreamy kid who, on playing his father’s old 45 of the ‘50s hit “Purple People Eater” is magically visited by the creature of the song’s title. Purple, as Billy calls him, looks like a giant sheepdog with dyed lavender hair, an eye in the center of his face, and a horn protruding from his forehead. He can also fly–sort of. More important, Purple encourages Billy to form a rock band.