Mars Attacks!
1996, Tim Burton Productions et al
You pretty much have to be a Tim Burton fan to enjoy the way-off-center, occasionally misguided humor of Mars Attacks! Barely breaking even at the box office, it suffered at the hands of critics who clearly didn't understand or appreciate Burton's humor. That's not to say the film is great; it misses the mark on more than a few occasions, although the long line of A-listers, appearing like clowns emerging from a Volkswagen, was entertainment all on its own. In particular, Jack Nicholson creates a truly frighteningly Trump-like President—two decades before it became a frightening reality! And as his wife, Glenn Close proves that she can handle comedy as handily as drama. In the end, the solution to the invasion crisis is perhaps one of the most brilliantly absurd ideas ever conceived.
Incidentally, the film was inspired by trading cards from Topps, and Burton faithfully recreated the Martians from this 1962 series of the same name.
DKS 12/17/17
Rev 4/3/22
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
