Oliver Matheson’s review published on Letterboxd:
“There’s a red thingy, moving towards the green thingy. Red thingy moving toward the green thingy…I think, I think we’re the green thingy”
Love the setup here: the cast of a Star Trek style tv show getting mistaken for the real thing and being abducted by real aliens is a thing of beauty. The only thing better than the setup is the cast. I’m a big fan of Tim Allen in The Santa Clause so it was great to see him doing his schtick again. After seeing her last in a brilliant dramatic turn in The Ice Storm it was very fun to see Sigourney Weaver take a more comedic role and knock it out of the park. Her character is used to lampoon the objectification of women, especially in sci-fi (Star Trek Into Darkness anyone?), which makes it a bit disappointing when her shirt just happens to rip near the tail end of the film. Sam Rockwell’s performance is brilliantly comedic, and he is handed the best lines of the film. And finally, just like most people, I would watch Alan Rickman in anything and it is amazing to see him bring his full weight into a film like this. Also, it’s the feature film debut of Rainn Wilson and Justin Long!! Also also, the villain here is legitimately intimidating, didn’t expect that but respected the hell out of it.
Big props to Dean Parisot and the writers for getting this made, it seems like a tough sell and from my brief investigation into the film it seems like the studio didn't really get it.
I wish I could say the CGI holds up but it doesn’t hold the film back in the way that the production design does. I think if the sets had a little more detail or color to them it would have been easier to fully invest in the action onscreen, but small complaints in a great film that combines a great plot with laughs, heart, and Tony Shalhoub.
“I know! You construct a weapon, look around you, can you form some sort of rudimentary lathe?”