The summer-movie season is dealt a disappointing blow by this well-intentioned clunker from writer-director J.J. Abrams (who put together the extremely entertaining Star Trek reboot). The movie follows a bunch of kids in the ’70s who like to make Super 8 movies. The film tries to be a coming-of-age story, a teen romance, a father-son parable and a monster movie all at once. Abrams’ love for Steven Spielberg (who produced the movie) is screamingly obvious, as the film rips off Jaws, Close Encounters and especially E.T. The alien/monster element is strangely secondary, with the beastie getting very little screen time. Abrams strains to wrap the film up in a pretty little bow with an emotional payoff. It’s time for him to make another Star Trek film.