My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writers (WGA):

Jerico (written by) and
Herschel Weingrod (written by) ...

Release Date:

9 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A million lightyears from home, she's found a husband, a stepdaughter and a dog. When she finds out about sex, she may just stay for weekend.

Plot:

An alien is sent on a secret mission to Earth, where she appears as a gorgeous, attractive, and single lady...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Space | Secret | Scientist | Breakfast

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Dan Aykroyd	...	Steven Mills
Kim Basinger	...	Celeste Martin
Jon Lovitz	...	Ron Mills
Alyson Hannigan	...	Jessie Mills
Joseph Maher	...	Lucas Budlong
Seth Green	...	Fred Glass
Ann Prentiss	...	The Voice of Bag (voice)
Wesley Mann	...	Grady
Tony Jay	...	Council Chief
Peter Bromilow	...	Second in Command
Nina Henderson	...	Cashier
Harry Shearer	...	Carl Sagan (voice)
Adrian Sparks	...	Dr. Morosini
Juliette Lewis	...	Lexie
Tanya Fenmore	...	Ellen

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company:

Weintraub Entertainment Group

Trivia:

The 25 January 1988 draft of the script credits Jerico as writer, with revisions by Frank Galati, Richard Benner, Susan Rice, Herschel Weingrod and Timothy Harris, Paul Rudnick, and Debra Frank and Carl Sautter, and a further rewrite by Jonathan Reynolds. Only four of the ten writers received screen credit.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When they are in the electric room the first time, a crew member is visible on the floor.

Quotes:

[after a long & strange make out, both somewhat out of breath]
Steven Mills: I've never felt anything like that before.
Celeste Martin: Do I now have to eat the chocolate from Pennsylvania?
Steven Mills: [laughs; looks slightly confused] What?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Spies Reminiscent of Us (#8.3)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Kiss

Still delivers big laughs, one to watch when your world has some gray skies

Widower Dr. Steve Mills (Dan Ackroyd) is a two-bit astronomer who wants desperately to send a light beam "out of" the solar system. He fervently believes there is life on other planets but his experiments have been known to damage expensive equipment. Therefore, his boss has told Steve that he will get the boot if he breaks anything else. Needing lightning to bolster his beam, Dr. Steve begins his next attempt at intergalactic communication in a thunderstorm when the system suddenly gets a "superboost" of power, which he can't explain. The result is that the radar shows his light went into another GALAXY, hurrah, but, soon after, the entire system goes south. Steve gets thrown out on his ear, of course. He goes home to his thirteen year old daughter, Jessie (Alyson Hannigan) and contemplates his next move. His womanizing brother, Ron (Jon Lovitz, absolutely hilarious) throws a party to cheer him up, too. But, crashing the get-together, is a beautiful blonde, Celeste (Kim Basinger) who flirts with Steve and wants to know his science secrets. That's because she is an alien whose planet was damaged by Dr. Mills' light beam. She has only a short time to get the good astronomer to send the jolt again so that her world will be saved. But, naturally, Steve must not know she is not an earthling. From alien "eyes" in handbags to drinking car batteries to convincing Steve to marry her, will Celeste succeed in her rescue attempts? If you are world weary, I heartily recommend this old charmer. It is very funny, probably Richard Benjamin's best effort, and it has a terrific cast, too. Ackroyd is wonderful but, then, so is Basinger in a role for which she has probably never garnered any praise, which is a big shame, for she is very funny and sweet. As for Lovitz, he could make a stone laugh and he is in excellent form in this one. All of the other cast members, including Hannigan, in her first big role, are fine. There is an abundance of terrific sight gags and special effects and the script is humorous, polished, and offbeat. As for the costumes, they are impressive, with Basinger looking like a dream. In short, do not be an alien to this film. There have been many films in cinematic history which have been praised high above this one but there are very few that actually deliver the laughs and enjoyment of this truly winning flick.