Harry here with a short intro for Joad's review. I'm still reeling from the concept that I enjoyed this film, and am holding off reviewing it till a third time just to make sure. Surely this can't be a good movie. (BANGING HEAD INTO WALL) It's a studio trick, how could I like this film? Some sort of chemcical imbalance... ARGGGGHHHHHh, Brain....hur...ting.... Here's Joad...
The Joadster here, back with a review that’ll surprise the hell outta most of ya’ll – ya probly won’t believe it…
I was awakened in the middle of the night by a figure dressed completely in black. Ski mask, gloves, the works – how he/she/it gained access to the Joad Abode still baffles me as only one of the two deadbolts I have on my door can be accessed from the outside with a key, the other can only be unlocked from within. I suddenly smelled a strong, overpowering chemical smell before *BLACK*
I awoke in the secret underground screening room Harry mentioned in his ROUNDERS review where I was seated between Harry and Quint (who looked more dazed than I – they must have gotten to him, too). It’s amazing the secret network I’ve been plugged into since moving down here to Austin last week…
The film we were to see is one that should be awful. No, make that GOD-awful! It should have been a struggle to sit through. But nope. The film was MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, and it turned out very good. In fact, albeit this is not a great movie is sure as hell is a fun one! Donald Petrie (GRUMPY OLD MEN, MYSTIC PIZZA, THE ASSOCIATE) really did a thorough job filling it with many geek moments, from a well placed (and very apt) product placement to an incredible cameo by Ray Walston, I laughed all the way through, a very pleasurable viewing experience!
Jeff Daniels does a good job playing Tim O’Hara (granted, he’s no Bill Bixby, but he is good) as a news reporter striving after daddy’s little news darling (Elizabeth Hurley in yet another role I find myself liking her in) who owns the station where he works. The big problem I forsaw was Christopher Lloyd who I don’t think has done a damn bit of fine work since Uncle Fester. I mean, I used to watch the old series in syndication over and over and I really expected my view of this film to be clouded by that of the great job done by Ray Walston, but Lloyd really came through! I’m really happy to see him in a good role in a good film that he can thrive in. And thrive he does.
This movie will surprise you again and again, before you even have time to register some of the impressive special effects, they’ll be upstaged by an even better one. This flick is fast-paced, the excitement of the climax builds and builds until, guess what? It actually pays off! Very satisfying. Wallace Shawn plays the agent out to find the Martian and prove that they do exist, and ya know? I’m hard pressed to think of role I haven’t enjoyed him in. Ever since his ‘battle of wits’ sequence in THE PRINCESS BRIDE, I have been a fan, and here, he only makes me like him more.
I know, I know, you’re thinking, ‘MY FAVORITE MARTIAN?’ Come on down and sober up, but I’m telling you, this is no FLUBBER. When the chance comes, hunker down your cash and enjoy one fast-paced, and funny ride. I sure did.
