EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY
A film review by Thomas E. Billings
Copyright 1989 Thomas E. Billings
Screened at its U.S. premiere, March 10, 1989, at the San Francisco International Film Festival (Kabuki Theatre, San Francisco).
Synopsis: Space aliens visit earth, and while they're here, decide to have a good time with ... human girlfriends! An outrageously funny and delightful comedy/satire.
U.S.A., 1988, color, 100 minutes.
Director: Julien Temple Producer: Tony Garnet Screenplay: Julie Brown, Charlie Coffey, Terrence E. McNally Principal cast: Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Julie Brown, Charles Rocket, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans Released by: Vestron Pictures
Director Julien Temple scores a bullseye with this light & warm hearted film that manages to satirize just about everything, including consumerism, Los Angeles-style pop culture, modern romance, and science fiction films. The satire is very well done, without the hard edges or cynicism that is so common nowadays.
The film begins by showing us the inside of an alien space ship, which is piloted by three furry humanoid creatures. They are frustrated and lonely, as they are on a long journey without female companions. The only female companionship available to them is to play holographic projections of (alien) females. The film then shifts to earth, where we meet Valerie (Geena Davis), an air-headed manicurist who works at the Curl Up & Dye hair salon. It seems that Valerie is engaged to a young Doctor, who is chasing every skirt in town but hers, and she is disturbed by this. Anyway, the alien space ship is passing earth, and they decide to do a little girl-watching. They happen to zoom in on Valerie's home, and they see her sunbathing by the pool. When Valerie removes her "breast protective device" (the top of her bikini), one of the aliens gets so excited that it leads to the alien ship crash-landing in her pool!
This sets in motion a sequence of truly unique and hilarious events, as the aliens suffer real "culture shock" in LA. Valerie takes the aliens to the beauty salon for a make-over, so that they are presentable in society. They then go out for a night on the town. There is a truly hilarious scene in a bar where one of the aliens is drinking out of a tall glass. He sticks his long (several inches) tongue into the glass, whereupon the four beautiful girls he is with start openly fighting among themselves to see which girl gets to go home with him that night! I won't give away any more of the film to avoid spoiling anything. Rest assured that there is a *lot* more humor in the film!
This film is a real delight. It is outrageously funny, but also warm-hearted. It is very fast-paced, and includes send-ups of, among other things, science fiction films, beach blanket films, television, and Jerry Lewis. Audience reaction at the premiere was enthusiastic, to say the least. Oh yes, it is also a romance film, and those aspects of the film also receive the comic touch.
There are a few other points that should be mentioned. Director Julien Temple is best known for music videos (although he has directed other films: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS, THE GREAT ROCK AND ROLL SWINDLE), and this film does include a few sequences that are essentially music videos. Although the music is nothing special, these "videos" are funny and fit well into the movie. Also, the special effects of the alien spaceship (except for the holographic alien females) are really cheesy. The alien costumes are also rather obvious. However, this does *not* detract from the film; the appeal of this film is its satire and comedy, not special effects. [Note: the holographic alien females effect is nicely done.]
I really enjoyed this film, and I think most people will too. The only danger in viewing it is that you will be overwhelmed by the humor, which comes at a frantic pace. I am also quite certain that this film will be a very *big* hit when it is released this summer! In summary, I would describe this film as the funniest full-length film I have seen in a very long time. [Remark: it is funnier than THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN, though the films are not directly comparable. MUNCHAUSEN is primarily an adventure film, which coincidentally has plenty of humor in it. EARTH GIRLS is pure comedy.]
Overall evaluation: highest rating possible; a must-see.
Reviewer: Thomas E. Billings; Department of Statistics University of California, Berkeley Reviewer contact: teb@stat.Berkeley.EDU
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