Rating: 
Summary: Another great film trashed by critics
Review: When "What Planet Are You From" came out in theaters in 2000, nearly every film critic in America bashed and trashed it. Although not a masterpiece on any standard, it is still a great comedy and has some great performances from some of today's stars. Gary Shandling is a comedic genius, somewhat akin to Peter Sellers, and his timing in this film delivers some of the greatest moments in comedic film history. The expressions he has when dealing with his buzzing member are classic, as well as his lines he uses in order to cover them up.
Also starring Annette Bening, in a different comedic turn but also has a classic performance, as well as John Goodman, Ben Kingsley, and Greg Kinnear, this film gives an interesting look at how love and sex are interpreted in different relationships. This is a theme familiar to the director, Mike Nichols, who tackles this same subject with his classic "The Graduate" and his newest film "Closer".
While "What Planet Are You From" may be seen as camp and corny by some, the underlying message in the film is universal. Once you can get past the idea of Shandling as an alien coming to earth to impregnate a human in hopes of taking over the world, and all the hilarity that ensues when he installs a penis that buzzes and vibrates when he gets sexually excited, I think everybody can see how moving and relevant the film actually is.
I highly recommend this film and hope you all give it a chance. A great film with some great stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Cute, but not great!
Review: A goofy and cute cosmic comedy that slows down in the middle but Garry Shandling's pathetic pick-up lines are hilarious, a few other cute areas make this movie worth renting at least.
Rating: 
Summary: Featherweight comedy is disappointing from Shandling
Review: Garry Shandling is one of the few comedians I like, and I've always enjoyed "The Larry Sanders Show" when I get a chance to see it, so he alone was enough to get me to see "What Planet Are You From?" since he co-wrote and stars in the movie. Shandling plays an alien who is sent to Phoenix to impregnate a woman as the first step towards infiltrating and conquering the Earth. If it had been done well the movie would poke wicked fun at dating rituals and expectations. Instead, half of the humor (if you can call it that) involves the fact that the alien's penis makes a mechanical buzzing noise whenever he is aroused. Shandling does get off some witty one-liners and while they were appreciated, they don't even fit in the context of the movie since he is playing an emotionless blank slate who is supposed to be clueless about the ways of women and the world. The premise is not terribly original but it could still have been used to sharply mock gender conventions and even take the viewer on a wild "Being John Malkovich"-style ride where you never know what to expect next. No such luck -- there are some stretches of the movie where nothing at all happens, and even when there is "action", it's nothing surprising or interesting. Aside from the mild-at-best satire, we get the message from the movie that it is better to devote yourself to your wife and newborn child than abandon them because of your duty to your job (and home planet). Stop the presses, boys. I wanted to like this movie, I really did, but I think 2 stars is extremely generous considering that "What Planet Are You From?" is supposed to be funny but is not, many parts don't make sense (even for an absurdist comedy), and it wastes tons of talent from the supporting players. John Goodman, Linda Fiorentino, Ben Kingsley and Greg Kinnear are all given small and uninteresting roles. Apparently the only reason they were casted is because it's funny to hear a famous person say words for genitals that Amazon won't let me print here. Annette Bening does do a good job in the thankless role of an emotionally vulnerable real estate agent (she better watch out or she'll get permanently typecast after this and "American Beauty") who becomes the alien's target. Shandling does get a few good digs in, and the movie is lighthearted and silly enough that I can't hate it too much for frittering away a couple hours of my time. I can't really recommend "What Planet Are You From?" though, unless you have absolutely no access to "The Larry Sanders Show" or "The Brother From Another Planet" and you're dying to see Garry Shandling along with a fish-out-of-water movie involving an alien.
Rating: 
Summary: The Planet Funny!
Review: Garry Shandling is so creative and funny. How can anyone deny that the Larry Sanders Show was one best in recent years. What Planet Are You From is a funny movie. Its not great. Its not as funny as say the recent Galaxy Quest. But compared to some of the other recent comedies say Whole 9 Yards its a good pick. Much like the TV show 3rd Rock, what is funny about the film is how much Shandling can get away with because as an alien he does not know better. He can be so unpoliticaly correct as an alien. The films opening 15 minutes are very funny. And the film remains cute for the duration. There are a couple of funny funny things but for the most part its just cute. Shandling and Goodman are great. So again, its not A Fish Called Wanda funny, but if you want a good rental its well worth it. I do not recommend buying this film, but definetly rent it.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great sci-fi comedy!
Review: Garry Shandling plays an alien who is sent to Earth to have a kid with an Earth woman. He meets Annette Bening, an AA-member, and soon realizes that social life isn't as simple as in the simulator back home. This is a very funny comedy, directed by Mike Nichols and co-written by Garry Shandling. He and Annette Bening are great in the lead parts, supported by equally good Greg Kinnear, John Goodman and Ben Kingsley. "The funniest movie of the year", some critics said. It probably is. It's great fun, that's for sure. I strongly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Absolute Classic!
Review: Gary Shandling is one of the funniest men alive! I watch this with much trepidation as the trailers made it out to be a cheese fest, boy was I right! I loved this movie for every minute I watched it. If you enjoy side spltting comedy and you've loved Shandling's previous work, you will certainly have a good time with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: What Planet Is This Movie Funny On?
Review: I cannot recall a movie in which more talented people, folks who have done such great work in front of and behind the camera, have all failed so miserably. There is not one laugh in this movie. And the story itself is inane to the point of utter tedium. Garry Shandling had better come up with a vehicle that suits his talents very, very soon. A leading man he ain't. Even if Adam Sandler cranks out three movies this year and they spin off a few SNL characters into feature films, you'll be hard pressed to find a worse comedy this year.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulously Funny!
Review: I don't know why this movie bombed but I suspect this country/culture we live in is in deep puritanical retrograde...once again. This is not only one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, but one of the few movies that treats sex in an open honest non-prurient & extremely hilarious manner, revealing so many of our (males & females) grossest hang-ups & fantasies. Thanks Mike & Gary & the rest. GREAT FUN!!
Rating:
Summary: A waste.
Review: I think that the film flounders just because it was made in a haste. It's definitely half-baked. It jumps and jitters from one track to another quite unexpectedly. The fact that there are some good jokes told by good actors only adds to the overall confusion.If given the time to shape inside the director's and scriptwriters' heads that movie could be one of the funniest offerings of the year. Instead in just stumbles to the ridiculous and utterly unfunny finale. Annette Bening is the ex-alcoholic of Mars Attacks! and the realtor of American Beauty. Linda Fiorentino is her usual maneating self. No surprises here. And Garry Shandling's face looks paralyzed. Just as the movie's baby, the film was born much earlier than it was due.
Rating:
Summary: Often uneven, but always manages to be funny.
Review: I will admit that there are probably a lot of people that won't get this movie, and even a few that won't think it's very funny, but I am not one of those people. Gary Shandling plays an Alien sent to earth to impregnate a woman and secure a child. Why? Well I can't say that I fully understood why, but after a while it didn't matter. Shandling comes to earth looking for promiscuous sex, and finds that it may be harder than he thought. Add to that the fact that his artificial member hums when he gets aroused, and you will find yourself laughing out loud more than once. Some of Shandling's best lines are delivered with such a dry wit that you can't help but laugh at them. The cast includes good performances by Annette Benning, John Goodman, Greg Kinnear, Linda Fiorentino, and Ben Kingsley. At times this movie seems to lose it's way and becomes more of a romance, but it quickly finds it's way back to the comedy it was intended to be. The ending is especially funny. I don't know if I would watch this movie over and over, but I am glad that I saw it at least once. But please note, there is a fair amount of nudity contained in the movie, so those of you who are concerned about that FYI.
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