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"My 'Planet'
or Yours?"
by Scott Mantz
"What Planet Are You
From?"
Garry Shandling, Annette Bening
Directed by Mike Nichols
It's amazing
how much technology has changed over the last 100 years. During
the 20th Century, we tapped into atomic energy and put a man on
the moon. Even small wonders, like cel phones and the internet,
are now part of our everyday lives, and anybody in the world is
just a mouse-click away. If that's the case, then why is it still
so hard to meet somebody? That's something that should have gotten
easier, but it has actually gotten much harder. No doubt about it--whether
you're from Los Angeles, New York, or even from another planet,
it doesn't matter--dating is still a bitch. That's what Garry Shandling
realizes when he comes to Earth to find the perfect woman in Mike
Nichols' funny, but not outrageous, comedy 'What Planet Are You
From?"
Harold Anderson
(Garry Shandling) is an alien from a technologically advanced civilization
who is on a mission to save his planet from extinction. He must
travel to Earth, impregnate a woman, and bring the newborn baby
home, where his sexual organs will be used to help the male-dominated
planet take over the Earth. That's easier said than done. Harold
learns that dating is tough enough without having to worry about
finding a woman who will bear his children. That changes when he
meets the kindhearted and spiritual Susan (Annette Bening), who
is attracted to Harold's out of this world behavior. In no time,
they get married, consummate the relationship, and have a kid. Mission
accomplished, right? Wrong. Harold must now deal with his newfound
emotional attachment to his wife and son and still manage to keep
his identity a secret from a nosy aviation expert (John Goodman)
who knows the truth.
Director Mike
Nichols is no stranger to reflecting the sign of the times. In "The
Graduate", he explored the sexual frustration of a post adolescent
generation trying to deal with an unknown future. In "Carnal Knowledge",
he debunked the "All You Need is Love" myth by showing how too much
sex is not necessarily a good thing. "Planet" doesn't get as deep
as those films. In fact, it doesn't cover anything new about relationships
that hasn't been done better in other films ("Everything You Always
Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask"). Still, it has
plenty of amusing moments and is easily Nichols' most accessible
film since "The Birdcage".
When "Planet"
does hit its target, it hits the bull's-eye. There's still this
ridiculous notion about following the "rules" and how women seem
to be attracted to men who treat them poorly. Shandling initially
meets Bening not at a bar, but at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Shandling gives up too easily after Bening turns him down for a
date, but the minute he (honestly) tells her that he wants to have
a kid, she's all over him. Since Shandling's newly attached reproductive
organ is not working properly, it makes a whirring sound whenever
he gets sexually aroused, much to the amusement of his partners.
Garry Shandling
is funny with his role, but that's because he's being Garry Shandling.
Since he co-wrote and co-produced the film, he pretty much just
plays himself. His self-deprecating humor fits his character like
a glove, but don't expect him to display any range. Much like his
character from "The Larry Sanders Show", he's not the most sensitive
person in the world (or the universe), and his deadpan humor makes
his discussions about sex all the more hilarious.
Shandling is
best buddies with Warren Beatty, so it's no surprise that Beatty's
wife Annette Bening was cast as the object of Shandling's affection.
Like her character from "American Beauty", Bening once again plays
a real estate agent. Unlike her character from that film, she plays
a sensitive and spiritual woman who is just looking for someone
to love. Her performance is touching and amusing, and she gives
"Planet" its heart. Greg Kinnear, John Goodman, and Ben Kingsley
are also amusing in their supporting roles.
The film falls
short just past the midway point, as the laughs become sparse and
the jokes start to wear thin. The buzzing penis jokes were funny
the first few times, but you can't base a whole movie around them.
Nevertheless, it still has plenty of laughs to make for a fun moviegoing
experience (and a decent date flick). If anything, it proves that
the truth is out there all right--dating sucks. It also proves that
there is someone for everybody. You just have to be patient, and
be prepared. When the right one comes along, no matter where he
or she is from, you'll know it.
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