During a bloody battle, two warring ships crash on a barren planet, with only one survivor from each ship. At first, the human pilot and the lizardlike Drac continue to fight, but the planet's harsh climate and the need to survive force them to form a tense alliance. Over time, they put old hostilities aside and form a friendship. When the parthenogenetic Drac becomes pregnant, the two draw closer, overcoming their external differences to appreciate each other for who--not what--they are. The film is a thinly masked treatise on race relations, handled well by its two lead actors, Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr. This futuristic sci-fi adventure film, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, features Gossett in an intricate full-body costume for his portrayal of the alien Drac.
Earthman Dennis Quaid and lizard-like alien Louis Gossett Jr (virtually unrecognisable under very impressive scaly make-up) crash-land on an unknown planet and learn that co-operation equals survival in this sci-fi fantasy. Director Wolfgang Petersen makes this racial tolerance plea in outer space disguise a satisfying blend of action spills and emotional thrills. It touches both the brain and heart, remaining true to its pulp science-fiction roots while never being anything less than engrossing entertainment.
Variety
"...ENEMY MINE is largely successful in establishing a satisfying bond....[The photography] manages to capture vast panoramas while maintaining the human scale of the story..."
Halliwell's Film Guide
All talk and little action, this is a way-out piece of do-goodery which tests the patience.
Radio Times
