past their mom and into the forest so they can set the machine up. Also, an alien is a pretty effective tool for shutting down an obnoxious big brother.) He not only helps Elliott gather parts for E.T.'s communicator, but, on Halloween, he helps Elliott sneak E.T. (We didn't say he changes from obnoxious to noble instantly. Of course, he teases Elliott pretty relentless at first, but once he comes face-to-face with E.T., that all stops. Check out this evolution: When Elliott swears Michael to secrecy about E.T., Michael upholds his end of the bargain. Michael's concern for his mom is just a hint of what's to come, as Michael's role shifts from tormentor to protector over the course of the film. That's a lot to put on the shoulders of a fifteen-year-old, even if he does wear cool political T-shirts. With Dad in Mexico, Michael's forced to be the man of the house. Sure, he's once again picking on Elliott, but at least he has his mother's feelings in mind, and he kind of has a point. "Why don't you grow up, think how other people feel for a change?" he demands. When Elliott pushes the issue of his father leaving his family for another woman-a topic that, predictably, upsets their mother-Michael chastises him. Hilarious, right? Both of these examples illustrate that Michael's not exactly the most sympathetic brother. Later, when Elliott insists that he saw something in the backyard, Michael mocks him, suggesting that he saw a sewer alligator, an elf, or a leprechaun instead. When Elliott wants to play, he's shut down until he consents to being the teens' pizza slave. Typical, if not a little bit nerdy, teenage stuff. We first meet Michael in the kitchen, where he's playing a tabletop roleplaying game with his friends, Steve, Greg, and Tyler. By the end of the movie, though, he's found a new position: protector. Michael starts off as Elliott's #1 tormentor, a role that big brothers frequently inhabit, often with great relish and even greater noogies. He's also a pretty standard older brother, which is to say, he's a pain in the butt-at least initially. He likes hanging out with his friends, is on the football team, and maintains a laser-like focus on getting his driver's license. By all accounts, Michael is a fairly typical suburban teenager.
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