| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Phil the Alien (2004) |
| Director | Rob Stefaniuk |
| Writer | Rob Stefaniuk |
| Lead Actor | Rob Stefaniuk |
| Cast | Rob Stefaniuk, Nicole de Boer, Brad McGinnes, Jefferson Brown, Graham Greene, Joe Flaherty, Boyd Banks, Don McKellar |
| Genre | Comedy, Sci-Fi |
| Release Date | September 11, 2004 (Toronto International Film Festival, Canada) |
| Duration | 1h 25m (85 minutes) |
| Budget | Approx. $1.5 million CAD |
| Box Office | Limited release (Canada only) – modest earnings |
| Language | English |
| IMDb Rating | 5.5/10 |
WATCH NOW
I was worried about not liking this one. Low-budget Canadian sci-fi comedy doesn’t exactly scream “fantastic” to me (and my last low-budget Canadian sci-fi taste of the festival left me with a bitter taste in my mouth).
But Rob Stefaniuk, the festival’s blogging golden boy, pulled it off. It’s filled with familiar Canadian faces like Boyd Banks, John Kapelos, Graham Greene, Sean Cullen and the heard but not seen Joe Flaherty.
Its tongue in cheek irreverence and fearless stupidity make it a real guilty pleasure. Phil the Alien crash lands on earth where he becomes not only a drunk, but a messianic rockstar as well. All the while he is chased by government agents in fur coats (led by Forever Knight’s John Kapelos, inhabiting the funniest evil lair I have ever seen).
The movie could’ve used some tightening up. It lags in parts but the ridiculous humour makes up for most shortcomings. Be warned that you may pee your pants in a scene involving a box of puppies and a cheese grater.
With an edited script and a bigger budget, this is a movie that could have been something very special. It’s still a joy to watch, and I hope it does well outside of the festival. Any success for Canadian film, especially comedies, are a good thing.
To watch more movies like Phil the Alien (2004) visit Fmovies.
Also watch