Jules (2023)

Jules (2023). 1h 27m | PG-13

“Greetings again from the darkness. Senior citizens sometimes nearly cease to exist for the outside world, or at best, are humored in a u0026#39;there-thereu0026#39; manner. So, what do you think happens when an elderly gentleman in a small western Pennsylvania town repeats the same suggestions at multiple City Council meetings, and then, in a nonchalant way, mentions that a spaceship crash-landed in his backyard, damaging his azaleas and birdbath? Right, others just shrug and move on, assuming the olu0026#39; geezer is just imagining things.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut what if the old man is not imagining? What if that spaceship/UFO did crush his azaleas and heu0026#39;s now being quite hospitable and nursing the injured alien back to health? Well, thatu0026#39;s the story here in the first feature film screenplay from Gavin Steckler (u0026quot;Reviewu0026quot;) in a film directed by Marc Turtletaub, best known as a Producer on such fine films as THE FAREWELL (2019), LOVING (2016), and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOscar winner Ben Kingsley plays Milton Robinson, a gentle soul and widower whose veterinarian daughter Denise (Zoe Winters, u0026quot;Successionu0026quot;) helps him out with finances, while also encouraging him to see a doctor in hopes that heu0026#39;ll agree to move into an assisted living home. We see her concerns as Milton is forgetful and repetitive and lonely … yet we also see his insistence on maintaining independence. Obviously, this is a situation many families deal with on a daily basis.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThings get really interesting when a couple of the other town elders become involved. Sandy (Harriet Sanson Harris) is the chipper do-gooder who is always trying to better the community, while Joyce (Jane Curtin) is the nosy one who wants to know everyoneu0026#39;s business. Watching these three deal with the quiet and calm alien they name Jules is almost a therapeutic experience in bonding over a secret.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMostly a charming, feel-good movie, Ms. Curtin does deliver a dose of comedy with her rendition of u0026quot;Free Birdu0026quot;, and having Milton admit to three jaywalking tickets while addressing the City Council is a nice touch. This little film is full of kindness – unless you are a cat – and most will recognize that sliced apples take the place of Reeseu0026#39;s Pieces. Itu0026#39;s likely the most pleasant and easy-going science fiction movie weu0026#39;ve seen … at least until the few moments when the government is involved. Letu0026#39;s hope we would all treat outsiders the way Milton treats Jules.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOpens in theaters on August 11, 2023.”