Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bland, if sweet, sci-fi comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
I'll Believe You
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Dale Sweeney (David Alan Basche) believes in aliens, UFOs, and other unexplained phenomena. His late-night radio show, where he asks callers to talk about their mysterious visions or experiences, is his dream job, but lacks much of an audience. Right before his boss (Fred Willard) cancels the show, Sweeney gets a strange call from someone speaking an unknown language. Along with his buddies -- Paige (Cece Pleasants), the logical science teacher, and Senna (Patrick Gallo), a goofy cop, Sweeney tracks the origin of the strange voice, expecting an alien, but getting something else entirely.
Is It Any Good?
Though the actors in this low-budget movie are fine, even momentarily charming, the film suffers from being somewhat boring. The movie does little to make us sympathize or even understand the main character's perspective, so it's hard to feel very invested in the resolution of the plot, as sweet as it might be. Along the way, brief encounters with comic actors Chris Elliott, Ed Helms (of The Office), and Mo Rocca are mildly amusing, but despite the attempt to pack the cast with quirky actors, the plot just doesn't hold up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about time travel and the future. What do you think humans will be doing in 1,000 years? If you could travel into the past or future, where would you want to go?
Talk about believing in something others think is silly. In the movie, Dale Sweeney believes in aliens and alternate realities even though his friends think he's nuts. How does he deal with that?
Have you ever believed in something that everyone around you didn't? How did you deal with that situation?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 9, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : September 8, 2009
- Cast : Chris Elliott , David Alan Basche , Fred Willard
- Director : Paul Francis Sullivan
- Studio : Well Go USA
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some mild language
- Last updated : March 14, 2020
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