32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Criminally Underrated, February 19, 2001
Mike Nichols; Gary Shandling; Annette Bening; Ben Kingsley; John Goodman; Greg Kinnear...
Some may look at this list of utterly-undeniably talented people and expect great achievement, while others may anticipate a too-many-cooks effect. Whatever *you* expect from What Planet Are You From? I can tell you one thing; Let this be the only review you read!!
I have read countless reviews of this film, such as Roger Ebert's One-Star one-note write up (in which he sounds as if he wishes he wrote the film), The SF Examiner's feeble complaint and Time Magazine's bile explosion in paragraph form, and they all nitpicked the film to death while ignoring the beauty of it all. Some focused on the 'buzzing penis' gag which leads me to believe they only screened previews and slept through the actual film. Yet others complained that Gary Shandling isn't sexy and shouldn't have starred in the title role. Uhhh... OK, lets cast Fabio, for his looks and great comedic timing.
I've seen plenty of movies, many of them comedies, and this one ranks with some of the best. I feel the casting was inspired across the board and features one of Greg Kinnear's best performances as a slimy womanizing cretin. Shandling is stellar as always, seeming to have an endless supply of one-liners and expressions for any situation. Annette Bening is possibly the best actress of her generation, and this performance clinches it.
I'll bring it into focus for you: it's a comedy of manners featuring a procreation-obsessed alien and a sex/relationship-disfunctional planet. The script is a Shandlingesque miracle and the performances are perfect. The film mixes universal truths about the human condition and truly funny situations which could have been clichés but were saved by the sly screenplay.
I don't know what the negative reviewers were expecting, but I got exactly what I thought I would: gifted actors and a fantastic director making what should have been a huge hit. Unfortunately, it seems that the prejudices and laziness of reviewers have sent this great movie to the bargain bin. See it today.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unique, good-natured and rewatchable, December 5, 2005
You would think given the subject matter that this would movie might come across like some 'Porky's'/'Airplane' movie but instead it's almost like a family comedy with a nicely understated performance by 'Garry Shandling' who I'd never seen in any other movies. A great cast helps with what could have been a awkward looking movie, but with 'John Goodman', 'Ben Kingsley' & 'Annette Benning' all giving perfect-pitch back-up roles you can relax in the knowledge of grade A cast. There are a few slow parts to the movie however. I did find the parts with Greg Kinnear a little long-winded (hence the 4 not 5 score) but overall it zips along at a good pace & it also has a lot of heart, getting almost too saccharine at the end but as in all comedies you know that what goes around comes around and that our hero will eventually get the girl. 'Ben Kingsley' is very funny as the bad guy & 'John Goodman' is on top form as the obsessed inspector. 'Annette Benning' is reliably angelic as the put-upon girlfriend who is strangely understanding of Gary's character's vibrating unmentionable's. I have never watched the 'Gary Shandling' show but was happily surprised by his performance here. The fact that he's obviously not a professional actor actually helps in his performance here & adds a certain authenticity and charm to his alien character. He just doesn't know how to act in this human world & his character actually comes over as quite appealing. This movie is one of those modern movies that has a high re-watch ability factor & reminds me a lot of 'Galaxy-Quest' another over-looked film which is constantly aired & has become like 'Splash' & 'Edward Scissor hands' were in the 80's & 90's on TV. Reliable, good-natured escapist comedy-candy which doesn't leave a sour taste in the mouth.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Film; Superb, and under-rated, April 2, 2005
Shandling plays the regular straight man in this film. The whole purpose for the visit to earth is world domination, at least that is what is CLEARLY stated in the film, at least twice this is stated. I don't know why the Amazon critic misses this point. Also, the penis HUMS, not buzzes. Also another point stated numerous times.
As has been said in other reviews, the humour is dry, and subtle. It's not a laugh out loud film, but it is enjoyable, and as many times as I have seen the film, all the performances are first rate, and Ben Kingsley's final moment is so classic.
Not exactly art, but its an enjoyable film, and streets ahead of a slightly related film EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY.
watch and enjoy.
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