For a film about advanced alien life forms thousands of light years away, "What Planet Are You From?" hits pretty close to home. There's just something about planetary metaphors that exemplifies gender differences on Earth and beyond. In typical "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" fashion, director Mike Nichols explores the different male and female perspectives on sexuality, providing true-to-life slapstick humor in the process.
Garry Shandling stars as an indistinguishably named alien who lives on a planet inhabited by men incapable of reproduction. Consequently, Shandling's character and fellow organ-less extraterrestrials must complete a mission: travel to Earth under the guise of a normal human being, impregnate a mortal woman, and take over the planet by working from the inside.
After a series of lessons satirizing the typically human male sexual pursuit - aliens are instructed to shower women with compliments on select parts of their body and tell them they smell nice - Shandling, under the pseudonym Harold Anderson, is selected to spread his seed to the far reaches of humankind.
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Harold's initial forwardness makes for some entertaining and clever comedy. A lovable, yet at times off-putting novice, Harry systematically hits on every woman in his path capable of arousing his attached artificial humming penis.
Ironically enough, Harold fits right in with the sex-crazed American male. His sole mission in life, as he has been directed, is to "insert his penis" into an earthling woman. Harold represents the chauvinistic view that man is only interested in his own gratification, but Nichols makes his scenes humorous rather than contemptuous, mocking rather than politically incorrect. After all, Harold is an alien with a noble quest.
Much to his disbelief, Anderson fails miserably at first, despite repeatedly practicing what he learned on Planet X. In time, Harold learns, with the help of a co-worker and manipulative infidel (Greg Kinnear), that vulnerable women can always be persuaded at AA meetings.
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Writers Michael Leeson and Shandling show how easy it is to prey on people's weaknesses. Soon, Susan (Annette Bening), a recovering alcoholic, meets Harold and eventually receives a marriage proposal. Harold wises up to the fact that marriage will ensure sex and, in turn, reproduction. Susan hesitantly accepts the offer after listening to her flaky friends' advice.
In the meantime, an investigator (John Goodman) perplexed by a sudden flash of light on an airplane theorizes that the incident is the result of some otherworldly phenomenon.
This is where the plot gets messy. The storyline and comedy build up quickly during the film's first half but, disappointingly, the wit ceases as the jumbled plot gets increasingly chaotic. It is obvious that Leeson and Shandling had no clue how to end "Planet" - the frantic ending makes audiences anxious to leave.
However, the all-star cast makes the film's conclusion bearable, especially with the amusing end dialogue. "Planet" adds to the already fast-paced momentum of Bening's career, showing her versatility and inclination toward real-estate agent roles. Shandling showcases his comedic talent and embarks on possible film-star glory. Goodman and Kinnear are nice additions in their roles as conflict-inciting sidekicks.
Overall, "Planet" is a keenly directed film that makes audiences look at their own relationships with members of the opposite sex.
Audiences witness a humorous transformation of Harold from a naïve alien to a more sophisticated and emotional being capable of love. If an alien can learn compassion, maybe there is hope for the human male population. "Planet" does offer at least one valuable lesson in its final portion: There's more to life than a vibrating penis.
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