What Planet Are You From? (2000)

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Just a nice throw away. Not great, but enjoyable nonetheless because of the typical Gary Shandling jokes. For those who already know Gary Shandling this movie is specially recommended, because his usual humor finds it's way into this story as well, because he was a co-writer. Others who are looking for a simple, action packed comedy might pass this movie by. It isnt the best comedy out there. It is funny, but not terribly funny. Everything that usually is misunderstood between men and women in relationships is enlarged in this subtle comedy. The story is about Gary Shandling being an alien sent to earth with one goal: impregnate a woman as quickly as possible. Annete Benning is the chosen one, who will be impregnated by an outerspace alien. Sounds childish. It is. But simplicity often works in comedy. And so do the simple but subtle jokes about this outerspace alien trying to understand how women on earth can be seduced to go to bed as quickly as possible. Nice supporting roles by Greg Kinnaer and John Goodman. The ever charming Linda Fiorentina plays a seductive femme fatale.

When I found out Nichols directed at the end credits my jaw dropped, this easily surpasses Graduate and Virgina by far! This was fun, educational and surprisingly touching. The line by Linda cracked me up the most: why is he humming, oh he doesn't know the words...hilarious!I cannot fathom how I have never heard of this film from almost 15 years ago. No cultural references, no quotes, nada. Beats me, but glad I found it because I was in dire need of levity with panache after dying from exposure from watching all the grueling death, destruction and Armageddon fare of late.High recommend for Shandling (writes/acts in this) fans, wow is he Orange! Sure wish Linda could calm down enough for more film roles, she is absolutely stunning.

Reading the rest of these comments, I realize that I must be from another planet, but here goes: this was the funniest thing I've seen in a very long time, and I recommend getting it and watching it right away. I don't know if it was Mike Nichols or Garry Shandling or whoever, but I couldn't stop laughing.

No faint praise here. On my fourth viewing, I was still howling with laughter.Garry Shandling is virtually unique in his ability to deliver an earthy joke with a light, even elegant, touch.Even this pic's defenders allow that it's not high art. Maybe not. But then again, just maybe.