Spaced Invaders (1990) User Reviews

Fun.

[Phil_H · 5/10 · 18 September 1999]

Stupid? Yes.

Laughable? Yes, again.

Fun? Definitely!

This movie accomplishes it's primary goal: entertain and have fun. That's all a good movie need do.

Worth a rent, at least one time.

cute, above average movie

[mcgrew · 6/10 · 4 July 2003]

I thought this would be another goofball ET ripoff (like the awful "Nookie"), but it is, instead is light-heartedly enthusiastic, with clever dialog, and a generally don't-take-ourselves-too-seriously attitude that makes this a great late-night (or late-saturday-afternoon) entertainment. Give it a watch! "That's it! Take me to a Government Lab, and cut me into wafer thin sections."

struggles

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 22 October 2020]

A spaceship of incompetent Martians arrive in an Illinois farming community following a rebroadcast of The War of The Worlds. They're late to a failed invasion and assume Earth to be the target. It's Halloween and everybody assume that they are kids in costumes. A few do see the reality of the situation and try to fight back.

The premise is a fine sci-fi comedy idea. One of the aliens is doing a Jack Nicholson impression. They should be less warlike. They should be slacker war avoiders and the Enforcer Drone can go crazy. They could join up with the kids to battle the Drone while the adults remain clueless. The way that they're set up. It's hard to root for anybody. It has plenty of quirkiness but it struggles to find the humor. There are fun ideas but most of them fall flat. If they could keep the two kids with the aliens as they battle the Drone, the movie would function a lot better.

Just what is so bad about this movie?

[boomryoung · 11 December 2001]

I first saw this movie in 1990 when it first came out on video. I agree that it is total nonsense, but it is also one of the funniest movies that I have ever seen. The very idea that a group of "advanced aliens" would be running for thier lives from a bunch of country hicks is totally side-spliting. Why do all science fiction movies have to be about murderous beings? This group of Imperial Martian Atomic Navy misfits reminds me of some of the idiots that I knew in the army! No wonder they were left on asteroid patrol while the rest of the fleet went to war. Leave this movie alone. We need more like it.

C'mon, let's kick some Earthling butt!

[Hey_Sweden · 4/10 · 10 January 2016]

Feeble brained Martains happen to hear a Halloween re-broadcast of Orson Welles' legendary radio production of "The War of the Worlds". They, of course, don't know that it's fiction, and think they're hearing legitimate orders to invade planet Earth. So they descend on a typical small American town named Big Bean, and wreak all sorts of havoc while the hapless local citizens try to deal with the problem.

This is just this viewers' humble opinion, naturally, but there was too much in this PG rated sci-fi comedy that didn't work for him. The movie is lightly likable, but not particularly funny. Its good moments (such as the pesky Martians breaking into song) are few and far between. Instead of being funny, it's too often overly silly and tiresome. The makeup effects, animatronics, and visuals aren't bad at all, but they deserved better material. (There's also a cute robot in order to appeal to the youngest members of the audience.) In one goofy touch, one of the Martians, a dude named Blaznee (played and voiced by Kevin Thompson) speaks in an amusingly bad Jack Nicholson style delivery. This viewers' favourite line of his: "There goes my insurance."

The performances are mostly lame, but appropriate enough for this sort of no brainer entertainment. Douglas Barr ('The Fall Guy') is the new sheriff, Ariana Richards ("Tremors", "Jurassic Park") his lonely, depressed daughter. Ever delightful Royal Dano is a hoot as always, playing a farmer somewhat reminiscent of the guy he played in "Killer Klowns from Outer Space". Also among those playing the Martians are Jimmy Briscoe, Tony Cox ("Bad Santa"), Debbie Lee Carrington ("Total Recall" '90), and Tommy Madden.

Fairly harmless stuff for family audiences; the kids probably won't be too judgmental.

Four out of 10.

Opportunity Missed

[tracywinters-44332 · 2/10 · 21 August 2015]

There was ONE funny line in this movie and that was when one of the little pip-squeak aliens addresses a human: "Prepare to die, Earth scum!". The rest of the movie sucked.

Oftentimes, the renowned Idiots in Hollywood will have what looks like a 'can't miss' idea on their hands, but then end up blowing it in its execution. In short, the producers don't recognize what a gem they could have while the writers can't keep up and the project fails.

Previews promised a funny movie, of course that is commonplace with the vast amount of dead-head writers Hollywood keeps employing who help push boring stuff like this film.

Not a chuckle to be found for long stretches and ultimately a dud production from the start.

Stupid and annoying.

[TOMNEL · 2/10 · 28 February 2008]

This is a really dumb movie. It could be fun with the cool looking aliens and the country setting, but it just isn't.

Some aliens hear the broadcast of War of the Worlds when a small country radio station plays it on Halloween. They come to Earth to kill humans, but instead of killing, they make people their slaves and act goofy. The front cover of the film shows these aliens riding surfboards in space...not really what they do. These aren't party aliens, they are stupid cartoonish idiots with annoying high pitched modulated voices. The alien with the most tolerable voice also happens to be the Jack Nicholson rip-off alien who always wears his sunglasses. Other than the aliens, the acting is terrible. The writing is obviously meant for children, because every character is written like a kid.

This is a dumb movie, that only children will appreciate, maybe.

My rating: 1/2 out of ****. 100 mins. PG for mild language.

A Great Film From When Disney Could Make Funny Movies

[michael_the_nermal · 7/10 · 18 July 2010]

I understand many will think "Spaced Invaders" a lame farce about little green men trying to take over Earth; but believe me, compared to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," which I have just finished watching with my family, "Spaced Invaders," along with "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", makes me weep with nostalgia for how low Disney has fallen in quality. While "Spaced Invaders" is the film of least quality of the trio I mentioned, it nonetheless has a cheeky sense of humor, with a wonderful script and actors (er, voice-over artists for the Martians) who make this film highly watchable (and with no lame CGI effects of dragons or fireballs to ruin the fun!).

The Martians themselves make a great team. Their antics and delusions of grandeur are insanely fun to watch. One person compared the ostensible military commander of the Martians to Invader Zim, the protagonist from the eponymous Nickelodeon cult classic, and I think it is an apt comparison. Why does one Martian have a Jack Nicholson voice? I don't care, and I love it. Enjoy the futile attempts of the Martians to get their jalopy of a spacecraft to go airborne, and their desperate fight against the hicks and yokels of Big, Bean, Illinois. The human robot slave is one of the coolest sidekicks I've seen, and his creation, a robot made from tractors and other farm machinery, is one of the best special effects I've seen in a Disney movie. How can you hate his best line: "the smell of battery acid makes me thirsty!"? Answer: you can't.

This is one movie where you root for the alien invaders all the way. The human, denizens of a small Midwestern farming town, are made to be less than sympathetic characters, especially the wicked banker named Clembecker (or whatever his name was). One of the good humans is a brilliant example of character design, a crazy, wiry old farmer named Wrenchmuller who has a way with words and with nitroglycerin. The kid in the duck costume who also speaks with a lisp is also fun to watch, though he isn't in the film all that much.

Don't take "Spaced Invaders" too seriously as a film, nor look for any important theme or message. Sit back and enjoy Disney before CGI and Jerry Bruckheimer eliminated any camp value the company once had.

One of the worst things to come out of Hollywood ever

[swmwshrk · 1/10 · 19 December 2020]

I saw the coming attractions for this and went to see it on opening day. IT was not funny, and the best joke in the coming attractions wasnt even in the movie. Id rather spend the rest of my life watching grass grow and paint dry than to suffer through 5 minutes of this waste.

"But, Dad, they're not really bad, they're just...stupid."

[charlieoso · 6/10 · 10 June 2018]

When a rebroadcast of the infamous Orson Welles telling of the classic 'War of the Worlds' by H.G. Welles hits the radio airwaves an alien race invades earth. Aimed squarely at kids, so I would recommend if you do find this movie and have kids in say the 8-11 range they might enjoy it. For adults though, there isn't much to take out of this silly sci-fi yarn. Starring Adriana Richards who befriends the alien race and old veteran Royal Dano who plays the half-crazed, down on his luck farmer whose barn becomes the landing spot of the aliens.

Not half as witty as its title.

[gridoon · 3/10 · 30 May 2002]

Sloppily directed, witless comedy that supposedly spoofs the "classic" 50s "alien invasion" films, but really is no better than them, except of course in the purely technical department (good makeup effects). And any spoof that is worse than its target is doomed to fail ("Casino Royale", "Our Man Flint" are worse than almost any James Bond movie). After two hours of hearing the screeching voices of the aliens, you'll be begging for some peace and quiet. (*1/2)

Spaced Out Fun!

[Space_Mafune · 8/10 · 24 August 2003]

After mistaking a Halloween re-broadcast of Orson Welles' classic radio adaptation of WAR OF THE WORLDS for a real Martian invasion, a group of moronic Martians shows up on Earth looking to conquer only their plans go awry as they find themselves truly out of their element and in reality all alone.

This really is often quite good and funny, with some decent lines (just check the memorable quotes) to boot. It will most likely appeal to Sci-Fi fans. This has passed the test of time for me as seeing it again recently it proved much better than I expected it to be. Despite a cast made up of no-name stars, this may just be the funniest Martian invasion ever put to film. Interestingly enough, the Martians themselves seem to represent almost every classic Action Hero/Sci-Fi Hero stereotype there is (cool 50s teen, fighter pilot, fearless astronaut, brave soldier and kooky scientist). Fun for the whole family.

"Prepare to DIE! Earth Scum!"

My favorite Halloween movie. Great one liners!

[mhdere-1 · 6/10 · 15 November 2021]

Stereotypical Martians think they are invading earth thanks to the airing of Orson Wells "War of the Worlds". Elementary humor with quotable quips and a Martian version of " Home on the Range". Should be a cult classic Halloween movie for folks who don't watch horror movies.

Without question, the worst movie I've ever seen.

[thetosher · 1/10 · 23 June 2000]

Imagine you're a high-school boy, in the back of a dark, uncrowded theater with your girlfriend. How bad would a movie have to be, in order that you would feel compelled to leave the theater and head home before it ended? This movie is that bad. Really. Movies often become so bad that they're good; this movie is beyond that stage of bad-ness. It is painfully bad. Horribly, terribly, crime-against-humanity bad.

TOTALLY FUNNY

[becca239 · 24 September 2004]

I've watched this movie so many times the video is worn out. It is a movie I can put on whenever I need a good laugh. The farmer is hilarious, the duck boy is too. It's an overall feel good movie. Even kids 12 and up can watch it without being inundated with sexual innuendos, violence and cursing. The TNT award at the end is the best... "well, you can just say your prayers." LOL Oh yea, and so are the two old guys and the old woman after the martians fly by them when they are crash-landing on earth - "okay, go get the bucket" It's great! I think kids under 10 might be frightened by the enforcer drone, maybe. I don't know though, with all the crap they see on TV on a regular basis, it might not be. So go out an rent it today! If you have Blockbuster Rewards(TM) program, you can use one of your free rentals and you'll enjoy.

Dumb and Dumber and Dumber and Dumber gets even Dumbier!

[Helismoke · 1/10 · 23 March 2022]

It starts off really slow and then tapers off.

This makes " Dumb and Dumber " seem like a documentary about intelligent life forms!

I suggest you read the other one and two star reviews, I don't even want to waste my time on this really bad movie.

Well well well

[bjornar.narland · 3/10 · 26 January 2000]

I saw this movie when i was much younger and i thought it was funny. I saw it again last week, and you can guess the result. Some funny parts in it, very few and too long. The beginning is the only thing that is funny if you ask me.

If you want a total b-movie this is a good pick, but don't expect too much from aliens dwarf size

Possibly the worst movie I've ever seen!

[jcahill-2 · 1/10 · 7 December 1998]

This was an incredibly stupid movie. It was possibly the worst movie I've ever had the displeasure of sitting through. I cannot fathom how it ranks a rating of 5 or 6.............

It is enjoyable

[flrpitflrp-63-795403 · 7/10 · 31 March 2020]

So it might be that expectations were low, but I really enjoyed this film. Some of the aliens are doing a few old actor impersonations. The script might come off as spoofy, some parts are quite cleaver. With an opened mind and some popcorn. You might enjoy this film. So if you can find a reasonably priced copy. Pick this one up

A fun romp thru SciFi Silliness

[davidemartin · 10/10 · 9 February 2001]

Looking at some of the negative posts, you really have to wonder what some people do for fun....

I was lucky enough to see the film during its all-too-brief theatrical run. The audience laughed its heads off. I'm watching a tape of it as I type and it's still dang funny!

It's also got a sweet side, with unexpected turns of genuine pathos. The late, great Royal Dano is especially effective as the lonely, down-on-his-luck farmer Wrenchmuller. Ariana Richards and J.J. Anderson are great as the lead kids. And the actors in the Martian suits, although limited to mime, do a great job

Another thing to look for is the background details. The film is full of homages, pastiches, and references to other SF and fantasy films. Take a look at the Martian costumes next time. One of them is wearing a Marty McFly costume, another is a Ghostbuster, a third is in a House Atreides uniform, and a fourth is wearing a Last Starfighter flightsuit.

Good

[manitobaman81 · 7/10 · 30 August 2014]

The setup: Dimwitted Martians drop into a little Illinois town on the day that the local radio station happens to rebroadcast Orson Welles 1938 "War Of The Worlds".

The verdict: About as funny as a bad case of syphilis. Some overgrown clowns trying to be silly. I don't know why I watch the movies I do, because I always waste at least three hours a week watching crappy movies. I wasn't really sure if I'd like the movie -- and I certainly did not. Unfortunately, after this movie there were several other movies that tried to capitalize on its success. My final rating stands at 7 out of 10.

Silly, cute, a lot of fun, especially when you watch it with the kids.

[calian · 14 June 1999]

Or if you *are* kids. An earlier reviewer at this site called it one of the worst films he'd ever sat through, and I must admit that it's not great film-making. It's not SUPPOSED to be great film-making. Don't go into it expecting any great revelations, any high-tech effects. In fact, don't *expect* anything. Just take it on it's own terms and you'll probably like it. Light-hearted fun.

Never the Earth was so closed to be taken by the tiny green Martians, however they are afraid to us have the Stallone at our side!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 10 June 2023]

Oh my God, one the best Sci-Fi comedy of all time, creative screenplay inserting smart gags and so many delightful sequence with those tiny green big head Martians when randomly their spacecraft dropped in the Earth in a farmer of an old man Wrenchmuller (Royal Dano) nearby on a small city at Illinois state in the exactly moment when the local radio station is re-broadcast the famous Orson Well's "War of the Worlds" also in the meantime is ongoing a Halloween party when the invaders from Mars are mistaken as guest party.

The small group of dumb Martians wearing the Orson Wells speech figure out that it really in happen and one of them a high patent soldier demands an attack against the earthlings, but one of them using Laker's t-shirt wearing sunglass is more easy way, whilst other says "we are in five only and they are 5 billions, nuclear bombs and they also have the Stallone" what a line, the movie is fully scattered of jokes like this, Royal Dano as the broken farmer stolen the picture being the key man over the spooked citizens, in other hand two kids also are the highlights as the Duck boy and the Alien girl as well.

Who knows why this movie never reach me on TV, I'd missed it somehow in the past, worst the low rating gathered for a measly 5.3 is criminally outrageous for our intellect, where it went ours humor, some bitter reviewers probably has some damage brain quite sure in such lowest ratings, a lack of sensitivity is stinking, a fabulous picture that hope some day comes to light on DVD format to strengthen my collection!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: Youtube / Rating: 7.5.