Given the caliber of talent involved, expectations run reasonably high for "What Planet Are You From?" -- the comic battle of the sexes directed by Mike Nichols and co-written by Garry Shandling.
But while the picture certainly seems very pleased with itself, it's a frustratingly one-note underachiever, succeeding neither as sharply observed satire nor raunchy sex farce.
There are definitely amusing moments to be found here, but there are more missed opportunities when it comes to mining something more astute than its tired take on the fundamental differences between men and women.
Columbia Pictures' aggressive marketing push could pay off in some solid opening business, but ultimately the film, unlike alien Shandling's humming private parts, will generate just a moderate buzz.
The story begins on H1449-6's (Shandling) planet. The alien planet is located four solar systems and several generations away from Earth. It's a highly evolved place, except for the fact that there are no women, and its empire-building ruler Graydon (Ben Kingsley) needs to propagate his adult male race.
Handed the more Earthling-friendly moniker of Harold Anderson, Shandling is chosen to find a woman and impregnate her, but not before being schooled in the art of the human mating dance and outfitted with highly mechanized genitals.
Harold quickly discovers that his crude but sincere pickup lines need about as much overhauling as his defective sexual apparatus, which sounds like a turbine engine starting up every time he becomes aroused.
While he doesn't get much assistance in the finesse department from womanizing colleague Perry Gordon (Greg Kinnear), he finally finds hope in the person of Susan (Annette Bening), a recovering alcoholic who ultimately agrees to Harold's baby-making request provided they first get married.
Meanwhile, an obsessed FAA agent (John Goodman) investigating a series of mysterious airline turbulence occurrences has picked up Harold's alien scent and is moving in quickly.
When "What Planet Are You From?" is at its best, as it is whenever alien-busting Goodman is on screen, there's a whimsical Woody Allen tone to the proceedings similar to "Sleeper" and "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex." For the most part, however, there's an prevailing smugness that carries over to the patronizingly crowd-pleasing happy ending.
And while Nichols and Shandling (along with the other three writers credited for the screenplay) are enjoying themselves, the cold, hard truth is that, pump it as they may, a buzzing penis bit will only take you so far.
Fuller advantage could have also been taken of the comedically adept cast. Although Goodman has one of the funniest scenes in the movie facing off against Kingsley, Bening is essentially playing a benign version of her "American Beauty" character (when asked what she does for a living, her reply that she's a real estate agent receives chuckles from knowing viewers). Kinnear's smarmy player, meanwhile, has nowhere to go. Even Shandling's shrugging bemusement schtick works better on the small screen.
Similarly wasted are Camryn Manheim, Nora Dunn and Ann Cusack, who play that most tired of contemporary comedy conventions -- the heroine's trio of best friends, a k a the female Greek chorus who dispense not-so-witty worldly wisdom about life and love.
WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?
Columbia
A Brad Grey/Bernie Brillstein production
A Mike Nichols film
Producers:Mike Nichols, Garry Shandling and Neil Machlis
Director:Mike Nichols
Screenwriters:Garry Shandling & Michael Leeson and Ed Solomon and Peter Tolan
Story:Garry Shandling & Michael Leeson
Executive producers:Brad Grey, Bernie Brillstein
Director of photography:Michael Ballhaus
Production designer:Bo Welch
Editor:Richard Marks
Costume designer:Ann Roth
Music:Carter Burwell
Casting:Ellen Lewis
Color/stereo
Cast:
Harold Anderson:Garry Shandling
Susan Hart:Annette Bening
Perry Gordon:Greg Kinnear
Graydon:Ben Kingsley
Helen Gordon:Linda Fiorentino
Roland Jones:John Goodman
Nadine Jones:Caroline Aaron
Rebecca:Judy Greer
Cheryl:Anastasia Sakelaris
Alison:Camryn Manheim
Madeline:Nora Dunn
Liz:Ann Cusack
Running time -- 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R...
But while the picture certainly seems very pleased with itself, it's a frustratingly one-note underachiever, succeeding neither as sharply observed satire nor raunchy sex farce.
There are definitely amusing moments to be found here, but there are more missed opportunities when it comes to mining something more astute than its tired take on the fundamental differences between men and women.
Columbia Pictures' aggressive marketing push could pay off in some solid opening business, but ultimately the film, unlike alien Shandling's humming private parts, will generate just a moderate buzz.
The story begins on H1449-6's (Shandling) planet. The alien planet is located four solar systems and several generations away from Earth. It's a highly evolved place, except for the fact that there are no women, and its empire-building ruler Graydon (Ben Kingsley) needs to propagate his adult male race.
Handed the more Earthling-friendly moniker of Harold Anderson, Shandling is chosen to find a woman and impregnate her, but not before being schooled in the art of the human mating dance and outfitted with highly mechanized genitals.
Harold quickly discovers that his crude but sincere pickup lines need about as much overhauling as his defective sexual apparatus, which sounds like a turbine engine starting up every time he becomes aroused.
While he doesn't get much assistance in the finesse department from womanizing colleague Perry Gordon (Greg Kinnear), he finally finds hope in the person of Susan (Annette Bening), a recovering alcoholic who ultimately agrees to Harold's baby-making request provided they first get married.
Meanwhile, an obsessed FAA agent (John Goodman) investigating a series of mysterious airline turbulence occurrences has picked up Harold's alien scent and is moving in quickly.
When "What Planet Are You From?" is at its best, as it is whenever alien-busting Goodman is on screen, there's a whimsical Woody Allen tone to the proceedings similar to "Sleeper" and "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex." For the most part, however, there's an prevailing smugness that carries over to the patronizingly crowd-pleasing happy ending.
And while Nichols and Shandling (along with the other three writers credited for the screenplay) are enjoying themselves, the cold, hard truth is that, pump it as they may, a buzzing penis bit will only take you so far.
Fuller advantage could have also been taken of the comedically adept cast. Although Goodman has one of the funniest scenes in the movie facing off against Kingsley, Bening is essentially playing a benign version of her "American Beauty" character (when asked what she does for a living, her reply that she's a real estate agent receives chuckles from knowing viewers). Kinnear's smarmy player, meanwhile, has nowhere to go. Even Shandling's shrugging bemusement schtick works better on the small screen.
Similarly wasted are Camryn Manheim, Nora Dunn and Ann Cusack, who play that most tired of contemporary comedy conventions -- the heroine's trio of best friends, a k a the female Greek chorus who dispense not-so-witty worldly wisdom about life and love.
WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?
Columbia
A Brad Grey/Bernie Brillstein production
A Mike Nichols film
Producers:Mike Nichols, Garry Shandling and Neil Machlis
Director:Mike Nichols
Screenwriters:Garry Shandling & Michael Leeson and Ed Solomon and Peter Tolan
Story:Garry Shandling & Michael Leeson
Executive producers:Brad Grey, Bernie Brillstein
Director of photography:Michael Ballhaus
Production designer:Bo Welch
Editor:Richard Marks
Costume designer:Ann Roth
Music:Carter Burwell
Casting:Ellen Lewis
Color/stereo
Cast:
Harold Anderson:Garry Shandling
Susan Hart:Annette Bening
Perry Gordon:Greg Kinnear
Graydon:Ben Kingsley
Helen Gordon:Linda Fiorentino
Roland Jones:John Goodman
Nadine Jones:Caroline Aaron
Rebecca:Judy Greer
Cheryl:Anastasia Sakelaris
Alison:Camryn Manheim
Madeline:Nora Dunn
Liz:Ann Cusack
Running time -- 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R...
- 2/28/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.