I was really primed to love this movie, but I'm afraid I did not like it much at all, despite a clever concept and a brilliant cast. Basically, it's a variation on E. T., but where E. T. features a space alien lost on Earth who is aided by some children, in this one the alien is aided by three senior citizens. It's a charming premise, but the charm dissipates quickly, as one tasteless thing treads on the heels of another. Maybe you find dead cats funny. If so, this is right up your alley. It's not for family viewing unless you want your children to hear the "F" word. There are also a couple of mild lesbian jokes. One of the women gives the alien a t-shirt that says, "I'm not a lesbian, but my girlfriend is." (This is NOT a gay-bashing film. Harriet Harris's character goes on at length about how much she loves her lesbian daughter, although I have no idea why this is in the movie at all since it adds nothing to the plot or the characters and is never mentioned again.) The film is rather clumsily written, directed, and edited. At one point in the film federal agents come to the house where the alien is being hidden and bang on the door. I was expecting a raid, but instead, the scene shifted to another location and the whole thing was forgotten! What happened? Did they cut a scene? Did the Feds just leave? If so, why? This is never answered! The Feds come back at the end, though, as if it had never happened. I'm so sorry to have to write a negative review, especially since Ben Kingsley gives a knockout performance. Whoever dreamed he was so versatile? He has a broader range than I ever imagined. He is a great actor. If this movie were better, he'd get an Oscar for this performance. But it's not and he won't. Harriet Harris and Jane Curtin are also excellent in their roles. This could have been a great film, but to me, it wasn't even mediocre.
