Harry here with a short intro for Joad's review. I'm still reeling from the concept that I enjoyed this film, and am holding off reviewing it till a third time just to make sure. Surely this can't be a good movie. (BANGING HEAD INTO WALL) It's a studio trick, how could I like this film? Some sort of chemcical imbalance... ARGGGGHHHHHh, Brain....hur...ting.... Here's Joad...

The Joadster here, back with a review that’ll surprise the hell outta
most of ya’ll – ya probly won’t believe it…

I was awakened in the middle of the night by a figure dressed completely
in black. Ski mask, gloves, the works – how he/she/it gained access to
the Joad Abode still baffles me as only one of the two deadbolts I have
on my door can be accessed from the outside with a key, the other can
only be unlocked from within. I suddenly smelled a strong, overpowering
chemical smell before *BLACK*

I awoke in the secret underground screening room Harry mentioned in his
ROUNDERS review where I was seated between Harry and Quint (who looked
more dazed than I – they must have gotten to him, too). It’s amazing
the secret network I’ve been plugged into since moving down here to
Austin last week…

The film we were to see is one that should be awful. No, make that
GOD-awful! It should have been a struggle to sit through. But nope.
The film was MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, and it turned out very good. In fact,
albeit this is not a great movie is sure as hell is a fun one! Donald
Petrie (GRUMPY OLD MEN, MYSTIC PIZZA, THE ASSOCIATE) really did a
thorough job filling it with many geek moments, from a well placed (and
very apt) product placement to an incredible cameo by Ray Walston, I
laughed all the way through, a very pleasurable viewing experience!

Jeff Daniels does a good job playing Tim O’Hara (granted, he’s no Bill
Bixby, but he is good) as a news reporter striving after daddy’s little
news darling (Elizabeth Hurley in yet another role I find myself liking
her in) who owns the station where he works. The big problem I forsaw
was Christopher Lloyd who I don’t think has done a damn bit of fine work
since Uncle Fester. I mean, I used to watch the old series in
syndication over and over and I really expected my view of this film to
be clouded by that of the great job done by Ray Walston, but Lloyd
really came through! I’m really happy to see him in a good role in a
good film that he can thrive in. And thrive he does.

This movie will surprise you again and again, before you even have time
to register some of the impressive special effects, they’ll be upstaged
by an even better one. This flick is fast-paced, the excitement of the
climax builds and builds until, guess what? It actually pays off! Very
satisfying. Wallace Shawn plays the agent out to find the Martian and
prove that they do exist, and ya know? I’m hard pressed to think of
role I haven’t enjoyed him in. Ever since his ‘battle of wits’ sequence
in THE PRINCESS BRIDE, I have been a fan, and here, he only makes me
like him more.

I know, I know, you’re thinking, ‘MY FAVORITE MARTIAN?’ Come on down
and sober up, but I’m telling you, this is no FLUBBER. When the chance
comes, hunker down your cash and enjoy one fast-paced, and funny ride.
I sure did.

Any posting in TALK BACK labeled as Harry Knowles is not me. I will no longer be posting to Talk Back till the registration software is installed. So if you see someone acting like me, they are full of baloney. Have fun posting. Harry