EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY
US, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans.
Directed by Julien Temple.
Earth Girls Are Easy is a spoof on the popularity of films about aliens visiting Earth (from E.T. to My Stepmother is an Alien). It is also a spoof on the plastic life of contemporary California and Los Angeles.
The film was directed by Julian Temple, director of music videos as well as such films as The Great Rock 'n Roll Swindle and Absolute Beginners (and also an episode in Aria). He brings a glossy television style to this film which enhances its potential for spoof. However, as with this kind of film, it is a hit-and-miss affair with various episodes and characters appealing to different audiences.
The strength of the film is in Geena Davis, who takes the role fairly seriously and gives an earnest deadpan performance in the central role, as a cuticle expert and beautician who works at the 'Curl Up and Dye' salon Her husband, Jeff Goldblum, is the Mr Nice Guy alien, Mac. There are musical numbers in the style of Absolute Beginners. There are comic sequences In various Los Angeles locations. There is smart dialogue as well as humorous situation and references to movies like Earth Versus the Flying Saucers, from which scenes are shown. This is a spoof as well as an updated B-grade cartoon space epic.
1. The popularity of alien films in the 1980s? This film as a spoof? And of Los Angeles life?
2. The work of Julian Temple: blending realism with surrealism? Fantasy? Musical numbers? An over-the-top style?
3. The title, memories of Flying Saucers Versus the Aliens, etc? The presentation of aliens, the sets, the action? Cartoon style and the tradition of the B-budget Mms?
4. The film as lavish B-budget: Los Angeles and style, the staging of the numbers, stunts? The cast?
5. The aliens and their ship, the artificiality of the sequences? The colour of the aliens, the language and the subtitles? Television and their eyeing the girls, especially the bald girls? Being drawn down to Earth, crashing in the swimming pool? The eccentric characters, their behaviour? Valerie coming into the ship, their being nice to her, going into the house, trying all the mod cons, mimicking the television and the phone?
6. The relationship between Val and Ted, sexual relationship, his two-timing her, his distance from Valerie? Ted's vanity and looking at himself in the mirror? Bringing the girl back home, the clash with Val? His leaving? Val, the impending marriage, her disillusion with Ted? Friendship with Candy, going to work? Her beautician style, the nails; the cuticle convention? The importance of the transformation song and dance and the whole set-up for the beauty parlour? her being transformed to a blonde, going home and waiting for Ted - and his bringing the girl home and being Doctor Love?
7. Val and the aliens, Candy freaking out, transforming them and their becoming Los Angeles types? The decision to go on the outing, the dance and their expertise? Ogling the women? Going home, Ted and his call? Calling the police? The reaction to the aliens?
8. Goody and his cleaning the pool, the surf and spaced-out Californian, taking the aliens for a ride? The hold-up? Angelyne and her car being hit? The chase on the highway, driving backwards, ending up in the huge doughnut? In hospital?
9. The relationship between Val and Mac, his quiet charm, the sexual fantasy? His being Mr Right? Their going to the hospital to rescue the others? The
10. Ted and his wanting to make up? Valerie trying but it not helping? The aliens' decision to go, the goodbyes? Valerie wanting to go with them? Leaving Ted and the cat? A happy ending in space?
11. The genial tone of the film? Mod-style fairy tale? The comedy and its Californian style?
