Review of E.T. - Dress Up Version action figure

Introduction

I'm going to blaspheme at the temple of Spielberg - I don't like E.T. The film came out when I was in college, and I thought the overly syrupy script was silly and contrived. My opinion hasn't changed over the years, but I do plan on having my kids watch it some time soon - hey, it's still a classic, and just because it isn't to my taste doesn't mean others won't like it.

I do like the alien design, however, and we haven't had many collectibles in the last 20 years or so based on the character. NECA is changing that with a nice set of E.T.'s based on his different looks on screen.

Perhaps the most amusing is the Dress Up E.T., wearing the silly outfit that the young Drew Barrymore clothes him in.

You can find this guy, along with the other variants, at Toys R Us and various online retailers. Expect to pay around $13 or so, depending on the seller.

Packaging - ***
NECA still uses the tried and true clam shells, with an attractive insert. I like clam shells because they hold up to shelf wear and storage extremely well, but the downside is needing a knife to get the figure out. It's also certainly not a collector friendly style, since you'll have to destroy it.

Sculpting - ***1/2
There's a nice amount of detail, especially in the face and skin texture. This is a very good representation of the film character, and the scale (he's about 5" tall) fits in pretty well with 7" figures.

There's some very nice touches, including the rings on the fingers and the bracelets on the wrist.

The wig and hat are not intended to be removed, so this isn't an E.T. that can play double duty. He's really a cute secondary variant, not a figure that can be dressed and undressed as your mood shifts.

The hair is not quite as detailed as I'd like, with thick stranding. The neck wraps are a bit chunky too, but the overall appearance works.

Paint - ***
The best paint work is in the most important areas - the face and eyes. They are clean and sharp, and the gray skin tone looks excellent.

The rest of the outfit isn't quite as nice, and they cut some corners on the patterns of the dress. There's a little slop around the hat and hair, and the wash on the wig is a little much  as well.

Still, the final overall impression is a good one, with the pluses outweighing the negatives.

Articulation - ***1/2
For a short, stubby little guy, E.T. has a lot more articulation than I expected.  

The ball jointed neck has a great range of movement, and the shoulders are the classic 'NECA shoulders' which allow for a decent range of movement. The elbows are also pin/disc style, which means they move forward and back AND twist 360 degrees.

The wrists are ball joints as are the hips. They all work great, and give him a lot more poseability than you'd anticipate from this body type.

Accessories - ***
There is only one accessory, but considering the price point, that's one more than I expected. E.T. comes with the cutesy little purse that they accessorize him with, and while it's not huge or super detailed, it's a nice touch.

Fun Factor - ***
This is a fun version of E.T. It's probably not your first choice if you don't already own at least one of the more normal versions, but adding this one as a variant really spices up the display.

Value - ***1/2
To pick this up for just $13 at Toys R Us was a bit of a surprise. It's nice to see something a little cheaper than the norm these days, and they even included an accessory and decent articulation. I complain about pricing a lot, so it's only fair that I give a nod to NECA this time around.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing!

Overall - ***1/2
I might not be a huge fan of the movie, but that doesn't mean it isn't a classic. No movie themed action figure collection would be complete without at least one E.T., and having the option of picking up this key variant is a big plus. Major fans of the film should be pleased, and once they've got a standard version, this one should be the next pick up.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - ***
Fun Factor - ***
Value - ***1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Your best bet right now is to hit the local Toys R Us.

Related Links -
It's probably not that surprising, but this is the only E.T. related review I've ever done!

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

Discussion:
Want to chat about this review?  Try out one of these terrific forums where I'll be discussing it!

Enjoyed this review? Be sure to head back to the main page to find thousands more just like it!