Just screams ‘late 80s’ don’t it?
Dr Steve Mills (Dan Ackroyd) is a scientist shooting messages into outer space, only an unexpected lightning-powered surge supercharges the signal, causing chaos for a formerly benign and unsuspecting alien planet.
Seeking answers the alien race sends an envoy to investigate where the signal emanated from and how to replicate the act to once again restore balance to their system.
When Celeste arrives as the representative, learning about Planet Earth en route (with assistance from a scaly eye in a handbag) in 20 minutes flat, single dad Steve doesn’t twig that she could be from outer space, nor can he understand just why she seems so fascinated in his work and so out of touch with social niceties.
Celeste says she’s from Holland, and Steve seems happy enough to believe her, especially when it becomes evident that she will do anything to convince him to provide her with assistance and information. And for an ‘in her 80s prime’ Kim Basinger, convincing a male human to do something wasn’t all that difficult. She could have turned millions of guys to crime with a mere twitch of one of her fascinating curves.
The laughs as always comes from seeing how a newcomer can adapt and conform with what we take for granted, or more specifically how their initial attempts invariably are hopelessly and comedically inappropriate. This is no different to the Austin Powers trilogy or almost every film where someone has to dress up to pretend to be someone else. ‘Gee that black guy is trying to act white and can’t stop with the street slang! In other news I am so happy the Wayans brothers keep finding work…’
And while it is momentarily amusing to watch Kim Basinger’s bumbling – her version of seduction is far more… interesting… than amusing – the comedy is light on the ground here. With Steve’s attention fixated upon his new girl, only his spunky daughter Jessie has doubts as to this newcomer’s authenticity, while Jon Lovitz provides laughs as the smarmy (what else?) younger brother who resents Celeste’s interest in his dorky brother.
With the laughs few and the plot harmless and lightweight, the attention moves to the retro kitsch of realising that Alison Hannigan and Seth Green go on a pre-teen date ion, and that there was a time when Dan Ackroyd could headline a comedy…
Final Rating – 6 / 10. This is not the film that alien races should use to learn about the heights of human comedy.
