Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Delightful, sweet story about seniors and aliens; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Jules
What's the Story?
In JULES, 78-year-old Milton (Ben Kingsley) lives by himself in the quiet town of Boonton, Pennsylvania. He passes the time attending city council meetings and trying to get the town's slogan changed. His daughter, Denise (Zoë Winters), worries about him and thinks that dementia might be setting in. One day, an alien ship crashes in Milton's backyard. He invites the creature inside, names it Jules (Jade Quon), and feeds it a steady diet of apples. At first, Milton tries to tell people what happened, but no one believes him. Then nosy neighbors Sandy (Harriet Sansom Harris) and Joyce (Jane Curtin) discover Jules' presence and urge Milton to try to keep him a secret. As the trio spend more time with the alien, helping it gather fuel for the ship, they find their friendships deepening.
Is It Any Good?
It's feather-light and visually unremarkable, but this fantasy/comedy about friendship and family is nonetheless a pure delight -- sweet, funny, and irresistibly huggable. Directed by Marc Turtletaub, a longtime producer of many excellent indie films (Little Miss Sunshine, Loving, The Farewell, etc.), Jules has an immediately disarming quality, perhaps due to the cozy small-town setting -- or perhaps due to the high-quality performances. Kingsley isn't necessarily known for his comedy chops (at least, outside of his role in the MCU), but he's very funny here, quite deadpan in fact, as he explains why the town slogan -- "a great place to call home" -- is confusing because it sounds like it could be referring to a phone call.
Curtin is also hilarious, perhaps the funniest she's been since her Saturday Night Live days, ruminating about her time in the big city and belting out a version of "Free Bird" for no particular reason. Harris, best known for stage and TV work (but who also thoroughly stole her scene in Licorice Pizza), is wonderfully subtle. And Quon, a 4'11" stuntwoman, is utterly awe-inspiring as Jules. Her movements, full of wonder and curiosity, are practically poetic. The trajectory of Jules -- the characters arguing, sharing adventures, and eventually becoming friends -- isn't particularly surprising, but it gets there with spaced-out ease.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Jules' scenes of violence. How did they make you feel?
In what ways does the movie demonstrate and encourage empathy?
How does the movie portray people over 60? Why are those in this age group often marginalized in entertainment?
What does family look like in this story? Do Milton, Sandy, and Joyce become a family? How is their relationship different from or similar to Milton's relationship with his daughter, Denise?
How does the depiction of the alien here compare to other movie aliens?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 11, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : October 10, 2023
- Cast : Ben Kingsley , Jane Curtin , Harriet Sansom Harris
- Director : Marc Turtletaub
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Bleecker Street
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong language
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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