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      Earthbound

      2012 1 hr. 33 min. Romance Comedy Sci-Fi List
      Reviews 50% 50+ Ratings Audience Score Joe, an alien living on Earth, falls in love with Maria. He shares his secret and she thinks he is crazy until intergalactic bounty hunters arrive to take him away. Read More Read Less

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      Audience Reviews

      View All (10) audience reviews
      corkball Decent flick if you have nothing better to do. Tone was a little uneven, but that seems to be on purpose. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review jesse o I know I shouldn't say this, but I really do expect this review to be one of the shorter ones I've done in a while, since I don't imagine that I'd have a lot to say. I don't really know what to make of this movie, because part of me really appreciated its approach to its story and its characters, but part of me also found this to not be entirely consistent. There's a more DIY approach to the sci-fi in this flick, like it's obvious that they didn't have a massive budget to work with, but they do what they can with what they got. If you're looking for cool-looking gadgets or amazing special effects, then you're really watching the wrong movie. Not only because of its budget, but because of the fact that I think it relies more on character than its sci-fi trappings. I think this also benefits from the cast, which I felt was quite strong. It's not like this is the best cast sci-fi flick I've ever seen, but Rafe Spall makes the character easy to relate to and how he's held on to this story his father has told him, where he's an alien who's the key to his planet's survival if he finds a woman compatible enough with him. But it also showcases Joe's refusal to let go of his father's stories, which are the only things he has from him after he passed away when Joe was 11. I think Rafe brings a certain likability to the character, he gives the character heart. It's a film that's definitely quirky but, like I said, Rafe Spall finds a way to make the character more than just a quirky, weird guy. The narrative is fairly predictable. Joe struggles with whether or not he should tell the love of his life the truth about his origins. Once he tells her and she does not believe his far-fetched tales, she tries to find him psychological help, which leads him on a road that bursts the bubble that he so carefully wanted to maintain at any cost, due to not wanting to face the reality of what his life is like. So, later, of course, it's revealed that Joe is indeed an alien and his lady love has been taken hostage by the bounty hunters that have been after him his entire life in order to sacrifice him, for some reason or another. This is never made clear, like why do they need to sacrifice Joe. Would it stop the rebellion? Wouldn't him being sacrificed make the resistance movement stronger? I don't know, I have no idea where they were going with this. Jenn Murray is just lovely in this movie and she has real good chemistry with Rafe. The movie does get a little sentimental once Maria and Joe discover their real feelings for each other, but it's never overbearing, to me. What bothers me more is the fact that the film never really is consistently funny and the pacing isn't great, it feels longer than it actually is. And it's not a film that even goes that long. The film clearly has the best intentions at heart and it's clear that they wanted to make a good movie and they were close to succeeding. I just feel that this is slightly above average, at best. At least they made an effort, which is more than I can say for some flicks. I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm sure other people will enjoy this more than I did. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member MOVIE THAT CHALLENGES YOUR BELIEF AT VARIOUS MOMENTS Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member A heartwarming indie flick, Rafe Spall carries this film with the grace and nuance a quirky picture like this needs. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member A sci-fi rom-com? Yes, please! A truly wonderful film about a young man who was told by his dad (as dad promptly dies) that he is really an alien. Lonely young man grows up and is socially awkward and innocent. He finds the girl of his dreams and sets about trying to win her heart, but can he tell her 'the truth', if it is indeed really true? Watch and find out. You will love it Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Got a bit better towards the end, but overall it was still only OK. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Earthbound

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Joe, an alien living on Earth, falls in love with Maria. He shares his secret and she thinks he is crazy until intergalactic bounty hunters arrive to take him away.
      Director
      Alan Brennan
      Executive Producer
      Jacqueline Kerrin, Dominic Wright
      Screenwriter
      Alan Brennan
      Genre
      Romance, Comedy, Sci-Fi
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 5, 2016
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