Phil the Alien (2004)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(1,490 ratings)

When an alcoholic extraterrestrial living in a small Northern Ontario town finds God, his spiritual journey leads him on tour with a local bar in the feature debut of director Rob Stefaniuk. Soon after crash-landing in a remote Ontario town, innocent alien Phil strikes up a warm friendship with an… More When an alcoholic extraterrestrial living in a small Northern Ontario town finds God, his spiritual journey leads him on tour with a local bar in the feature debut of director Rob Stefaniuk. Soon after crash-landing in a remote Ontario town, innocent alien Phil strikes up a warm friendship with an open-minded young boy and a remarkably intelligent beaver. A stranger in a strange land, Phil eventually begins to fit in by drinking plenty of hard liquor and jumping in on jam sessions with the local bar band. Beneath the picturesque natural wonder of Niagara Falls, the General (John Kapelos) at the "Top Secret American UFO Base" plots to bring Phil to his base for a series of grisly medical experiments. Informed by his friend the beaver that there is a ship in Niagara Falls which he could use to get back home, the drunken Phil continues to spiral into alcoholism before attacking a cigarette machine and getting sent to prison. Having found Jesus during his stint behind bars, a rehabilitated Phil sets out on tour with the bar band while attempting to dodge the bullets of the General's feared assassin Madame Madame (Nicole deBoer). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Rob Stefaniuk
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 29, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Jan 31, 2006

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Less than satisfying and frustrating to think of how great this could have been.
Leah McLaren, Globe and Mail
A delightfully freakish comedy.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
This low-budget Canadian comedy rocks the house like few others.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Amateurish and low-budget skit on film has its moments, but mostly in its first half. This film could be a lot more polished but the Canadian humor is genuinely funny.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...instantly forgettable...
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
There's an irrepressible silliness and a palpable sense of kitsch that runs through much of Phil the Alien. And it's funny.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Wu C

Actually not bad. It was made by the guys I work with and I thought they did a good job with the low budget.

Cast

            Mary Crosby as Ginger

            Joe Flaherty as The Beaver [Voice]

            Bruce Hunter as Jones

            John Kapelos as The General

            Ingrid Veninger as Candy

            Christopher Barry as Thomas

            Jason Jones as Agent Orange

            Paul Popowich as Rob

            Graham Greene (II) as Wolf

            Rob Stefaniuk as Autopsy Doctor

            Nicole deBoer as Madame Madame

            Boyd Banks as Slim

            Addison Bell as Jimmy

            Robyn Palmer as Sandy

            Sean Cullen as Sammy

            Dwayne Hill as Agent Blue

            Mike Beaver as Trapper

            Brad McGinnis as Joey

            Noam Rosen as Brad

            Brad Hart as Dave

            Ryan Malcolm as Waiter

            Claire Brosseau as Michelle

            Nick Canakis as Gabriel

            Stefanie Rodriguez as Young Madame Madame

            Frank Meschkuleit as Autopsy Doctor
See full cast