MORONS FROM OUTER SPACE

UK, 1985, 90 minutes, Colour.
Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones, James B. Sikking, Jimmy Naill, Andre Maranne.
Directed by Mike Hodges.

Morons From Outer Space lives up to its title. It was written by two stars of the British TV series Not the Nine O'Clock News, Griff Rhys-Jones? and Mel Smith. They also star. While the material might be good for revue or for television, it seems over-inflated for the big screen - and often tends to fall rather flat or seem plain silly.

The film is a satire on all those 'aliens from outer space' films. Bernard (Mel Smith) and three companions, Desmond, Julian and Sandra, crash from a spacecraft (which is a holiday home for the four inhabitants). They crash on the M1 Motorway in England. As with other films, the media are after them, the police are after them, the military are after them - and also the Americans (in the forms of James B. Sikking). The film also focuses on Griff Rhys-Jones' novice reporter Graeme Sweetly. He is able to make a pop group out of the aliens who have become media personalities. Needless to say, there is satire on the pop world and concerts.

Bernard, however, is taken to California, is imprisoned (like Cuckoo's Nest) but escapes and moves to New York for a final confrontation with the other three who are starring in a rock concert. They spurn him. There is a 'Close Encounters' finale with the three aliens returning and Bernard left with Graeme back on Earth.

The film reverses expectations by having the aliens as 'pinheads' or morons from outer space. Bernard is a blend of the stupid and the lovable. The other three succumb to all the temptations of Earth.

In the background is a lot of satire about the British, the Americans, the military, the police, politicians and the press.

On paper this seemed quite a good idea. On the big screen it falls flat - but might amuse on the small screen.