Post by Jessica on Jul 25, 2020 22:39:23 GMT
I want to talk about this film. I haven't discussed it in detail before so I decided to start this thread. This is kind of an analysis, so it includes spoilers.
It's a fun family film, charming and has lots of funny moments. Jerry plays Kreton, a man from outer space who has a facination with earth and human beings. His teacher warns him about going there, but lets him if he doesn't involve with humans and emotions. The movie is mostly for laughs due to what comes in Kreton's way and also the physical boundaries he is breaking using his powers, creating funny situations. It's basically Jerry Lewis comedy that we know and love. The story goes forward at most when he interacts with humans. While on earth, he stays with a family and falls in love with the daughter, Ellen. And while this happens, his teacher watches his every move through a screen, ready to interfer whenever he wants. Ellen is dating Conrad, a quite obnoxious guy. Her father despises him. What confused me about Ellen in the beginning of the film is that she finds Conrad attractive, but says he doesn't have money, which sounds shallow. But at the same time, it's like she feels she isn't given the love she needs from him. As Kreton arrives, a love triangle between the three starts. Kreton and Ellen interact with each other and although he embarasses her by telling her he wants to "watch" her and Conrad, she finds him interesting. Later, Ellen tells Conrad they should take kreton for a night out. Jelaous, Conrad refuses and Ellen decides to go with Kreton herself. Ellen and Kreton goes to a club. The scene at the club is also most for the laughs, but it indicates they have a good time. Afterwards, they go driving and Ellen suggest they should go and "park for a while". She does this in a flirty way. As they park, Ellen points out that all the couples in the cars around them are cuddling and setting a romantic mood. Kreton, who at this point has begun feeling human emotions ask what kissing is like and Ellen insist that he tries it. They share a sweet moment with some goofiness. Like the protection barrier Kreton has around him. Now Kreton has been on earth probably not more than two days, but it's that type of film where they fall in love within a short time, although it doesn't feel too rushed. When I first saw the film, I thought that it seemed like Ellen had second thoughts about her boyfriend now that she has spent a romantic evening and interacted with Kreton. Kreton wants to marry Ellen, but her boyfriend Conrad overhears them and gets angry. Ellen tries to calm him down saying she was only trying to be nice to Kreton. This is what I don't really get. Why would she insist on a romantic evening? If she was not romantically interested, she wouldn't do all that, but they would just have go out and have a good time, not flirt with each other, giving Kreton false signals. The next morning, Kreton is about to ask Ellen's father if he can marry her. Just as he's about to ask, Ellen and Conrad comes in, anncouncing they just got married. My thoughts were, "Why? Why would Ellen agree to do that when there were hints that she was uncertain of her feelings?" The news upsets Kreton, but he tries to hide it, saying that Ellen was like a sister. His teacher, who's still watching him, totally ruin him when he makes Kreton's real feelings and thoughts be heard loud and clear by both Ellen and Conrad. Kreton is humilated, and tries to stop it, but can't. Conrad is furious and starts a fight. Ellen tries to stop them, but she is also intrigued by Kreton's feelings about her. This is yet another thing about her that annoyed me. Whether she decided to be with Kreton or Conrad, we should have a moment where she questions her current relationship, but now it feels like this came very rushed and unplanned. Had she not met the space man, it would be understandable. Kreton begs for his teacher to stop what he's doing, but he continues and even remove the barrier so that Conrad can hit him. He is now completely powerless. He runs away, finding his spaceship. Out of it, his teacher comes and asks if he's had enough. Kreton's says yes and his teacher proceeds to tell him that he has now felt the emotions of humans like love, jelaousy and pain and indicates he was right all along. They then go back to space.
I know Jerry's character is a type of alien and that he is completely out of place on earth, but I still think there could be scenes where both him and his love interest question their choices. Kreton's teacher did everything in his power to prove all along he was right. Even purposely humiliating Kreton to force him to change his mind. That human only brings out emotions you don't want. This is why I think that there should be moments where he realises that there is good in feeling emotions and learn about them, and develop, since he claims the earth and human beings are his hobbies. And there should also be a moment where Ellen questions her relationship and whom she wants to be with since the story builds up feelings between her and Kreton.
Anyway, this was an over-analyzed post about a 1960 film. I still really like it, but I wanted to share my thoughts.
It's a fun family film, charming and has lots of funny moments. Jerry plays Kreton, a man from outer space who has a facination with earth and human beings. His teacher warns him about going there, but lets him if he doesn't involve with humans and emotions. The movie is mostly for laughs due to what comes in Kreton's way and also the physical boundaries he is breaking using his powers, creating funny situations. It's basically Jerry Lewis comedy that we know and love. The story goes forward at most when he interacts with humans. While on earth, he stays with a family and falls in love with the daughter, Ellen. And while this happens, his teacher watches his every move through a screen, ready to interfer whenever he wants. Ellen is dating Conrad, a quite obnoxious guy. Her father despises him. What confused me about Ellen in the beginning of the film is that she finds Conrad attractive, but says he doesn't have money, which sounds shallow. But at the same time, it's like she feels she isn't given the love she needs from him. As Kreton arrives, a love triangle between the three starts. Kreton and Ellen interact with each other and although he embarasses her by telling her he wants to "watch" her and Conrad, she finds him interesting. Later, Ellen tells Conrad they should take kreton for a night out. Jelaous, Conrad refuses and Ellen decides to go with Kreton herself. Ellen and Kreton goes to a club. The scene at the club is also most for the laughs, but it indicates they have a good time. Afterwards, they go driving and Ellen suggest they should go and "park for a while". She does this in a flirty way. As they park, Ellen points out that all the couples in the cars around them are cuddling and setting a romantic mood. Kreton, who at this point has begun feeling human emotions ask what kissing is like and Ellen insist that he tries it. They share a sweet moment with some goofiness. Like the protection barrier Kreton has around him. Now Kreton has been on earth probably not more than two days, but it's that type of film where they fall in love within a short time, although it doesn't feel too rushed. When I first saw the film, I thought that it seemed like Ellen had second thoughts about her boyfriend now that she has spent a romantic evening and interacted with Kreton. Kreton wants to marry Ellen, but her boyfriend Conrad overhears them and gets angry. Ellen tries to calm him down saying she was only trying to be nice to Kreton. This is what I don't really get. Why would she insist on a romantic evening? If she was not romantically interested, she wouldn't do all that, but they would just have go out and have a good time, not flirt with each other, giving Kreton false signals. The next morning, Kreton is about to ask Ellen's father if he can marry her. Just as he's about to ask, Ellen and Conrad comes in, anncouncing they just got married. My thoughts were, "Why? Why would Ellen agree to do that when there were hints that she was uncertain of her feelings?" The news upsets Kreton, but he tries to hide it, saying that Ellen was like a sister. His teacher, who's still watching him, totally ruin him when he makes Kreton's real feelings and thoughts be heard loud and clear by both Ellen and Conrad. Kreton is humilated, and tries to stop it, but can't. Conrad is furious and starts a fight. Ellen tries to stop them, but she is also intrigued by Kreton's feelings about her. This is yet another thing about her that annoyed me. Whether she decided to be with Kreton or Conrad, we should have a moment where she questions her current relationship, but now it feels like this came very rushed and unplanned. Had she not met the space man, it would be understandable. Kreton begs for his teacher to stop what he's doing, but he continues and even remove the barrier so that Conrad can hit him. He is now completely powerless. He runs away, finding his spaceship. Out of it, his teacher comes and asks if he's had enough. Kreton's says yes and his teacher proceeds to tell him that he has now felt the emotions of humans like love, jelaousy and pain and indicates he was right all along. They then go back to space.
I know Jerry's character is a type of alien and that he is completely out of place on earth, but I still think there could be scenes where both him and his love interest question their choices. Kreton's teacher did everything in his power to prove all along he was right. Even purposely humiliating Kreton to force him to change his mind. That human only brings out emotions you don't want. This is why I think that there should be moments where he realises that there is good in feeling emotions and learn about them, and develop, since he claims the earth and human beings are his hobbies. And there should also be a moment where Ellen questions her relationship and whom she wants to be with since the story builds up feelings between her and Kreton.
Anyway, this was an over-analyzed post about a 1960 film. I still really like it, but I wanted to share my thoughts.
He doesn't re-use any jokes or lines from his performances as himself.
Watched it again this morning. 
