PLANET 51
US, 2009, 91 minutes, Colour.
Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biehl, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, Seann William Scott, John Cleese.
Directed by Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad.
This is an animated film (from Spain – and work done in the UK - and a company that produces video games) with enough to appeal to children and enough to amuse relaxed adults.
The presumption is this: out there in space is Planet 51 with its own pace of development for its green (and, to us), alien looking characters; they have arrived at the stage where Earth was in the 1950s, and the designers, costumers and music directors have a great deal of fun re-creating the look and sound of the city to make it a parody (gentle) of Earth and life in Southern California in those days. It opens very humorously as the locals are watching a space horror flick, Humaniacs II, with mother dragging out a littly from such an unsuitable film! But, it reveals to us that the inhabitants have no idea about life in space and are focused on their own world. But..., there is a secret military installation (echoes of Roswell) to confront alien visits. The commander is General Grawl.
It is amusing and entertaining to watch a world that parodies our own. Then an alien from Earth (looking and sounding like an All-American? or Buzz Lightyear's brother) lands on the planet which he thinks is uninhabited, which leads to lots of humorous jokes with the human astronaut as the target of alien gags. Paralleling ET, the alien is saved by young children who try to get him back to his space ship, pursued by Planet 51 military (really dopey) and a mad scientist who wants to collect the astronaut's brain. And so on...
The voices are entertaining as well. Dwayne Johnson is the astronaut, Justin Long the nerdish hero, Lem, contrasting with the boisterous comics and move obsessive, Skiff, voiced by Seann William Scott. Jessica Biel is the object of Lem's affections while Gary Oldman voices the General and John Cleese the mad doctor. There is also a doggy robot who collects samples – very reminiscent of Wall-E.
Plenty of references to 50s small budget sci-fi movies as well as Star Wars and Back to the Future. Not an award-winner, but quite entertaining.
1. An entertaining animation, science fiction, space exploration? The spoof of America in the 1960s? The spoof of American and world attitudes towards aliens?
2. The Spanish contribution, style of animation, the planet, the American town, the aliens and their appearance, the contrast with the humans?
3. The strength of the voice cast and characters?
4. The musical score, the songs, America in the 1950s and 60s?
5. The humour in the parody, the parallel between humans and aliens, who’s the alien? The appearance of the aliens and their taking their appearance as normal? Their shock at seeing the human, Baker and his anatomy? Their fear?
6. The setting, the parallel with Americans and 50s and 60s B-budget science fiction, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the Humaniac series? At the cinema, the audience, fears? Isolation?
7. Lem, the hero, his work at the planetarium, meeting the people, explaining space, the size of space, the kids visiting? The gift? Lem and his awkwardness, at home, family, his longing to make an impression with Neera? His shyness and his longing?
8. Neera, her family, their attitude towards Lem, Neera more assertive? The barbeque?
9. Skiff, the opposite of Lem, his knowledge about movies, comics, the shop, his theories? The little boy and his expertise and tagging along? Glar, protest and singing, his love for Neera?
10. The attention to detail in the characters of the aliens, the town, their daily business, the clothes? The parallels?
11. Charles Baker, landing, the effect, like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Earth’s attitudes towards aliens and presuppositions, the ship, wanting to plant the flag, his numerous fans, the countdown to his leaving? His being isolated, his fears, seeing the aliens? Being chased by them? The alien reaction? The fear of an invasion?
12. Charles Baker as the all-American, with more than a touch of Buzz Lightyear?
13. Lem, his taking in Baker, hiding him, sympathy and understanding, trying to avoid General Grawl and Professor Kibble? The military intentions, the psychological intentions?
14. Rover, the robot dog, Skiff and his love for the dog?
15. Base Nine, Grawl and his set-up, Kibble and his laboratories?
16. Lem, the group combining with him, the rescue of Charles Baker and his returning to Earth? The aliens returning to their ordinary way of life?
17. The film relying on humour, irony, parody and gentle satire?
