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Visit To A Small Planet

1960, Movie, NR, 85 mins

Visit To A Small Planet: Review

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This unexciting Jerry Lewis vehicle features him as an extraterrestrial who is extremely interested in the ways of Earth and who finally gets a chance to visit it when he breaks the rules of his planet by heading a spaceship Earthward. Lewis manages to befriend the family of news commentator Clark, a man who just happens to have presented a program in which he debunked the craze for searching for flying saucers. Lewis wins the family's confidence by using his supernatural skills to help them; they return the favor by taking the alien under their wings and teaching him about the behavior of an average Earthling family. The bulk of this teaching process falls on the shoulders of daughter Blackman, who takes Lewis to clubs and coaches him in some of the more intimate habits of humans. It is not too long before Lewis, who falls in love with Blackman, wishes to stay on Earth and marry the girl. But that doesn't sit too well with her beau, Holliman, who rushes Blackman off to elope. Watching all of the proceedings from the home planet is Williams, who, upon hearing Lewis' request to become just like a human, takes away some of his supernatural powers. Lewis now has the chance to feel some of the less admirable human qualities, such as pain when he is struck, jealously at having a rival in love, and just plain fear. It doesn't take long before Lewis is hopping in his spaceship and gliding back to his peaceful planet, having learned his lesson and willing to serve out his time at home. The power and effectiveness of the themes of the Gore Vidal play that gave rise to this film are extremely watered down to allow for the slapstick routines by Lewis, none of which is nearly as funny as it might have been. What remains is a glossy production that lacks the subtleties necessary for good satire. However, there is one really fine sequence that makes light of the beat generation: Blackman takes Lewis to a "way out" nightclub where the spaceman grooves with the beatniks and spouts lingo that baffles the hep cats. Dressed in his silver spacesuit, Lewis performs a dance routine with Lawson that even the denizens of the club can't handle--literally "out of this world." Nominated by the Academy for Best Art Direction. leave a comment
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