Morons from Outer Space

Morons from Outer Space
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1985
Founder	Mike Hodges (director), Griff Rhys Jones (screenplay), Mel Smith (screenplay)
Products	Comedy, science fiction film

Morons from Outer Space is a 1985 British film blending comedy and science fiction, helmed by director Mike Hodges. The screenplay was crafted by and features performances from Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith. The ensemble also includes Jimmy Nail and James Sikking.

Plot

A diminutive spacecraft arrives at a fueling station carrying four extraterrestrials: Bernard, Sandra, Desmond, and Julian. While docked, an accidental disconnection leaves Bernard isolated on the ship, as the other three crash-land on Earth.

The trio's landing site is in the United Kingdom, where they rapidly gain fame despite lacking innovative technology or earth-shattering discoveries. Under the management of the character played by Jones, they quickly amass wealth and draw large crowds.

Bernard separately reaches the United States, where his intellect remains unacknowledged. He endures homelessness and institutional confinement before eventually rejoining the others. Concerned that Bernard’s presence might undermine their celebrity status, the three choose to keep him hidden.

Cast

Joanne Pearce as Sandra Brock
Jimmy Nail as Desmond Brock
Paul Bown as Julian Tope
James Sikking as Colonel Raymond Laribee
Dinsdale Landen as Commander Grenville Matteson
Tristram Jellinek as Simpson
George Innes as Stanley Benson
Mel Smith as Bernard
Griff Rhys Jones as Graham Sweetley
Mark Lewis Jones as Godfrey
Leonard Fenton as Commissionaire
Andre Maranne as Professor Trousseau
Jimmy Mulville as Motorway Policeman
Leslie Grantham as Motorway Policeman's Assistant
Miriam Margolyes as Dr. Wallace

Production

In November 1983, Thorn EMI announced this film among its first four projects under new chairman Verity Lambert, alongside Slayground, Dreamchild, and Comfort and Joy. The script was developed by Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, with Mike Hodges directing. Lambert approached Hodges to direct, who accepted on the condition that EMI also produce his screenplay Mid-Atlantic, resulting in a two-picture agreement.

By December 1984, Thorn EMI aimed to secure £36 million from investors to finance multiple films including A Passage to India, Illegal Aliens (which was later retitled Morons from Outer Space), Dreamchild, Wild Geese II, and The Holcroft Covenant.

Interestingly, the title influenced Mel Brooks to change his film's name from Planet Moron to Spaceballs.

Critical

Overall critical response was mostly unfavorable, with the film holding a 4.5 out of 10 rating on IMDb. The Observer harshly remarked it was "so embarrassingly unfunny I often felt like crawling under my seat," while Empire pointed out its "loose script" and missed opportunities to fully exploit its absurd premise.

Director Mike Hodges later regarded the project as a "misfire," attributing this to creative disagreements with Smith and Jones during editing that resulted in a broader comedic tone than he had envisioned. Nonetheless, he valued the opportunity to parody the sentimental "Spielbergian vision of the world."

Box office

The movie experienced limited commercial success in the United Kingdom and generated a total revenue of merely $17,000 within the United States.

References

External links