Okay, "Starman" wasn't quite what I expected...

So, I finally got around to watching "Starman" (1984) and...wow, it's way different than I thought it would be! I heard it was sci-fi, and the whole alien-in-human-form thing totally piqued my interest, but the thriller aspects were way more understated than I anticipated. It's definitely more of a road trip drama with sci-fi elements, if that makes sense. Still good, just not the edge-of-your-seat terror I usually crave, lol. Karen Allen is amazing as Jenny! Her initial fear and grief, and then the gradual acceptance and even affection for Starman (Jeff Bridges!), was really believable. And Bridges... I can kinda see why he got an Oscar nom for it. The subtle ways he expressed Starman's learning and understanding – like figuring out eating or mimicking human expressions – was both funny and kinda heartbreaking. That whole diner scene where he heals the deer? Seriously touching. I did find the government pursuit a little... tame? I was expecting more intense chases and maybe some scary alien autopsy stuff, but it was more about bureaucratic process than outright villainy. Still, the ending hit me harder than I thought it would. I won't spoil it but, yeah, I might have teared up a little. It's a feel-good movie masquerading as something else. Overall, I enjoyed it! It's a good change of pace from my usual horror-thon. Anyone else seen it? What did you think? Maybe I'm the weirdo for expecting something scarier, haha! Did anyone else find the '80s special effects kinda charmingly cheesy, or was that just me?