Hollywood films can be based on anything, but really few of them are based on novelty songs. One of such rare examples is Earth Girls Are Easy, 1988 science fiction musical comedy, directed by Julien Temple and based on the eponymous song by comic actress Julie Brown. The plot, based on Brown’s script, is set in Southern California. Protagonist, played by Geena Davis, is Valerie Gall, manicurist who is about to marry her boyfriend, Dr. Ted Gallagher (played by Charles Rocket). The marriage is called off after she catches Ted with a nurse, but her new life as a single gets unexpectedly interesting when a spaceship lands in her pool. Three of its occupants are furry humanoid aliens – Mac (played by Jeff Goldblum), Wiploc (played by Jim Carrey) and Zeebo (played by Damon Wayans) – who came to Earth attracted by television signals featuring women. While she awaits pool to be drained, she befriends her new strange guests and tries to help them make their way in human society. She brings them to her friend Candy Pink (played by Julie Brown) who has them made to look human and after that they go to party in Los Angeles nightclubs. Valerie gradually falls in love in Mac, but, in the meantime, Ted gets determined to win her back.
Julie Brown’s script is not exactly deep, thoughtful or original and the quality of humour, especially in the second part, leaves much to be desired. However, the lightness of the material seems to be tailor-made for Julien Temple, British director best known for his work on MTV videos (and over-ambitious musical Absolute Beginners made few years earlier). He uses it as an opportunity to experiment with all kinds of styles and iconographies, mixing 1950s science fiction with 1960s beach party films and 1980s fashions and popular culture. Music, on the other hand, is far from being memorable and many song-and-dance number often look distracting. Cast is good, especially Geena Davis in potentially thankless role during which she has to play stereotypical Valley Girl; her performance is charming, especially in the scenes where she appears in bikini (and the film turns for the worse when she puts more clothes on). She easily overshadows not only film’s author Julie Brown, but her husband Jeff Goldblum with whom she nevertheless has good chemistry. Jim Carey and Damon Wayans, who would later have build their careers as comic stars, are good in the roles of “fish out of water” aliens. Michael McKean also makes unusual appearance in role of stereotypical surfer dude. The critics weren’t happy with the film and the audience was even less understanding, resulting in major box office fiasco that would lead to the end of Vestron Pictures, one of the minor 1980s Hollywood studios. Although ultimately watchable and passably entertaining, Earth Girls Are Easy would hardly convince today’s audience that such fate was completely undeserved.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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