4 stars of perfectly eighties hilarious sci-fi frolics.
My Stepmother Is An Alien is directed by Richard Benjamin (Made In America, Mermaids) and was originally released in 1988. This special edition has enjoyed a 2K restoration and is presented here on Blu-ray with numerous special features courtesy of Arrow Video.
“Don’t blame it all on me. I never told you they use spinach to keep their hands warm.”
It’s a rainy night and Dr. Mills (Dan Ackroyd – Ghost Busters, The Blues Brothers) is hard at work at the Haddonkirk Research Laboratory. He is trying to prove the existence of extra terrestrial life and is attempting to send out a signal using the lightning to provide a boost. It works, but due to a freak accident, caused by a jacket owned by his brother Ron (Jon Lovitz – Saturday Night Live) it works far too well and sends the signal into the atmosphere of a planet in a another galaxy.
This has a catastrophic effect on their planet and it is imperative for their survival that they recreate the signal. To this end, they dispatch their Chief Intergalactic Probist, Celeste (Kim Basinger – 8 Mile, L.A. Confidential) to find out what happened and recreate the signal.
Her species have carried out a study and determined that she should be the most desirable woman on the planet in order to woo Dr. Mills, so aided by the alien in her handbag “Bag” (Ann Prentiss – Quark) she attempts to fit in, with hilarious results.
Dr. Mills is immediately smitten, but his daughter Jessie (Alyson Hannigan – American Pie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has her reservations and suspects that Celeste is not all she appears to be. Can she convince her father before it’s too late?
“If you want my secrets, you’ll eat my sandwich!”
My Stepmother Is an Alien is a superbly entertaining film. Dan Ackroyd’s capacity for pulling faces is second to none and Kim Basinger is fantastically goofy yet sexy at the same time. Watching it again so many years later made me realise just how risque it is, but in an adorable eighties kind of way.
Much as I like the new generation of science fiction stories, it is nice to be reminded that it didn’t always take itself so seriously. It is laugh out loud funny in places and features lots and lots of familiar faces, including a brilliant appearance from a tiny Seth Green (The Italian Job, Family Guy).
This is an excellent package with plenty of special features and an absolute must own for eighties kids everywhere.
“Yes, well actually we did some computer runs in the lab and figured that if we could harness the energy output from the male members of the Martin Sheen family, we could probably put the state of Illinois on Pluto.”
My Stepmother Is An Alien is available to buy on Special Edition Blu-ray from 13th December 2021.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless 2.0 stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by critic Bryan Reesman
• Cosmetic Encounters: Directing My Stepmother is An Alien, a brand new interview with director Richard Benjamin
• Original trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Amanda Reyes
| Director | Richard Benjamin |
| Genre | Comedy, Sci-fi |
| Starring | Dan Ackroyd, Kim Basinger, Jon Lovitz, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green |
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