This month takes us not to new cities, countries, or worlds, but new galaxies. Time to finally take up stargazing because we’re ready to kick off Alien August!
The Film:
How to Talk to Girls at Parties
The Premise:
A teen trying to get his punk band off the ground unknowingly joins an alien party for an evening, leading to shenanigans.
The Ramble:
1970s London. Punk. Eyeliner. Spiky hair. Aliens? Aliens.
Enn is a wannabe punk rocker with his small group of misfit friends. No one seems to like his little gang, as their fellow punks think they’re posers, while everyone else thinks they’re hoodlums.
After embarrassing himself in front of the entire Croydon punk scene at a concert, Enn has also struck out with Boadicea, a punk with the connections to get their band into the limelight.
At least they have the after party to look forward to…until the trio become hopelessly lost while trying to find the party. Upon hearing strange music they’ve never experienced the likes of, Enn and his pals follow the sounds to a different party–an alien party.
Unbeknownst to any of the 3, they all have a good time grooving with the aliens, getting some hot alien action, and meeting intriguing alien girls. Enn feels a connection with Zan, an alien in the form of a teenager who wants to see and experience human life in an authentic way.
Unfortunately, the other aliens disapprove of Zan’s actions and even believe she will stir up trouble. After partying all night, Zan meets Enn’s mother as well as one of her fellow aliens, who sort of possesses the body of Enn’s mother to communicate?
When Enn and Zan return to Boadicea’s undergound punk club, a misunderstanding leads her to believe Zan is a big deal in the American scene. As a result, Zan accidentally becomes the lead singer of a punk band for the night.
However, her night goes off the rails when other aliens crash the party and she decides to do a little much carpe diem-ing in defiance. Overhearing some rather sinister plans, Enn becomes convinced Zan is part of a cannibalistic cult that will kill and eat its own.
Calling in a favor from Boadicea, Enn assembles a punk army to defeat the aliens and save Zan. Does she even need saving, though?
The Rating:
3/5 Pink Panther Heads
The coherence level is low here, but there are just enough charming touches to almost make up for it. There are some crazy, nonsensical sequences, but I don’t hate them–the energy is great and feels drawn from a genuine love of punk music and culture. Honestly, the plot is kind of unnecessary and not nearly as fun as just watching punk and alien cultures collide.
The highlights here are the two main ladies. Elle Fanning’s mannerisms are endearing and fun and avoid the trope of the logic-driven, emotionless alien. I do love that she keeps asking Enn to see the punk. And can we please talk about punk Nicole Kidman dressed more or less as David Bowie in Labyrinth? Because it’s just as incredible as it sounds.
The Pink Panther Snipes Again 