What Planet Are You From? (2000)

42% of critics liked it
(77 reviews)
25% of users liked it
(5,761 ratings)

Garry Shandling makes his big-screen debut as a leading man in this sci-fi romantic comedy. Harold (Shandling) is an alien from another galaxy sent to Earth on a vital mission: in order to ensure that his civilization will prevail, Harold must impregnate an Earth woman. But he discovers that this is… More Garry Shandling makes his big-screen debut as a leading man in this sci-fi romantic comedy. Harold (Shandling) is an alien from another galaxy sent to Earth on a vital mission: in order to ensure that his civilization will prevail, Harold must impregnate an Earth woman. But he discovers that this is more easily said than done, as he quickly gets a crash course in the arcane rituals of the human courtship process. What's worse, just when Harold thinks he's making progress in Earthbound seduction, he discovers that the males of his planet don't physically interface properly with women on Earth, so he is issued a variety of bizarre gadgets to complete his assignment. Mike Nichols directed What Planet Are You From?, which also features a top-notch supporting cast, including Annette Bening, John Goodman, Ben Kingsley, and Camryn Manheim. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Mike Nichols
Written By: Garry Shandling, Michael Leeson, Ed Solomon, Peter Tolan
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 3, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jul 18, 2000
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
Has a lot of jokes that register intellectually, but rarely does it poke you in a place where you can't help but squeal.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Bening, even in a formula role like this one, is so lovable she actually makes you believe that she'd melt the resolve of a technocratic space visitor.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
Bottom line, this is American Pie for boys-will -be- boys in the fiftysomething age range.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Diverting.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Thirteen year-old boys would love the film if they could get into this R-rated picture.
Gary Schwan, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The only eruption this movie evokes is a loud yawn.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Shandling's a bland black hole that obliterates whatever trace of energy or inspiration mustered by this unwieldy film.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It all seems to suffer from jet lag and a lame script and a bad case of crassness.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The movie offers not one shred of insight, comic or otherwise, into the eternal conflict between the sexes.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...what are Mike Nichols and Annette Bening doing here?
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
There are some amusing cameos and small parts and a number of very good one liners, but by god, this is really a shame.

Read all 11 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

Tim S

I watched this movie really wasted, so I'm not sure if this review is really all that fair. From what I remember there are some great, funny scenes from a really talented cast. Kinnear has some really funny asshole moments and John Goodman seems to make anything work. Annette… More
I watched this movie really wasted, so I'm not sure if this review is really all that fair. From what I remember there are some great, funny scenes from a really talented cast. Kinnear has some really funny asshole moments and John Goodman seems to make anything work. Annette Bening is the definition of a cougar and really brings a real levity to a lot of really stupid situations. The film is cute and inventive at the opening, but then gets bogged down by some really lame stuff. Shandling is funny, but there is this whole running away from the bad guys scene which really turned the movie into a stupid chase film in an already reaching plot. Either way, not terrible and a good way to pass the time while you are waiting for everyone to pass out so you can fall asleep on the couch.
Michael S

I can't believe Mike "The Graduate" Nichols directed THIS.
Lafe F

Weird flick with lots of Garry Shandling clones. I didn't find this music too fun. I didn't quite get it.
Cinema F

What Planet Are YouFrom? is not about the destruction of earth nor about the inane sex comedy a number of reviewers labeled/described it. The film explores the nature of male/female relationship quite well. Questions like: How do we meet each other? What are the female motives… More
What Planet Are YouFrom? is not about the destruction of earth nor about the inane sex comedy a number of reviewers labeled/described it. The film explores the nature of male/female relationship quite well. Questions like: How do we meet each other? What are the female motives for entering the courtship dance? The female reasons? Why is communication between the sexes so difficult? What is about the birth of a child that can heal the saddest relationships? And on and on. The film doesn't pretend to offer much in the way of answers to these questions, but that's okay. It is enough that it simply raises them. As a science fiction flick, this is not much of a close encounter picture. But as a human drama packed with laughs, it's quite good. Near the end of the film, the audience is shown an exterior shot of Gary Shandling's planet for the first time. It is a Metropolis-like setting and is completely gray. This bit of symbolism is akin to the drabness of male existence without female companionship--towering and impressive as an edifice, but cold and colourless and empty as well.
Leo L

Hilarious!