Review: Life After the Navigator

No one’s going to call “Flight of the Navigator” a 5-star classic, but for a certain group of us who were kids in the mid to late 80s, it’s a film most of us recall fondly. As a 44 year-old I see the film as interesting and really quite strange, whereas I responded mostly to the comedy and adventure as a kid. It still works, just differently for me now. I’d also been vaguely following star Joey Cramer’s life after the film, which seemed to take some very dark turns. So when I heard about this 2021 documentary from director Lisa Downs, I just had to see it. It’s a film about a child star gone wrong, which seems beyond cliché at this point. However, five minutes in and I was already emotional. This guy seems to have gone through a lot over the years and even during the filming of this documentary you get the sense that it’s still a day-to-day struggle. There’s a reason why addicts don’t generally refer to themselves as former addicts even after kicking the habit. It’s always an ongoing fight, it’s not a snap of the fingers and a magic solution. Although the film also delves into the making of “Flight of the Navigator”, it’s the sad story of star Joey Cramer that elevates this thing above being something like a DVD extra even though the blend of the two strands is a real narrative mess. It’s clunkily made but thematically too damn dark and compelling to be so easily dismissed.

 

How dark is it? Cramer’s dad was cruel and absent, Joey stole from his own mother (from a shockingly young age), became addicted to heroin, and fathered a drug baby with a fellow heroin addict who got him hooked in the first place. Oh, and he was convicted of carrying out a bank robbery. So, yeah. That’s how dark. We do get moments of light, including a hilarious origin story behind Cramer’s real first name, Deleriyes (Let’s just say mum was a Canadian hippie). As for “Flight of the Navigator”, Downs has assembled most of the players here, with director Randal Kleiser being the EP of the documentary. We even get some of the actors in smaller roles and bit players like Raymond Forchion. It’s not hard to see why they were likely forced to bring in the likes of him as cover for who they couldn’t get. Absentees are Sarah Jessica Parker (who has moved onward and upward in her career) and Paul Reubens who was still alive at the time but perhaps a touch too controversial to get involved here (and given it’s a story involving drugs and robbery, that’s saying something). Notable alternative casting choices for Cramer’s role were Chris O’Donnell and Joaquin Phoenix, the latter of whom would’ve been a really interesting choice I think but Cramer definitely fit the vibe Disney were likely going for. It was particularly nice to see Matt Adler and Albie Whitaker, who played Cramer’s younger brother Jeff at varying ages in the film.

 

A tragic story about the kid from an 80s kids classic who experienced problems before and long after his brush with fame. It’s not an especially well-made film but it’s a must-see for fans of “Flight of the Navigator”, tough as the subject matter can be. I wish nothing but the best for Joey Cramer, he’s been through hell and hopefully the worst is behind him now.  

 

Rating: Compliance (B-)