Jules is a new science fiction film by Marc Turtletaub that is out in theaters now. It’s one of those quirky cool movies that you never know if it’s going to be good until you watch it. It’s also the kind of film that quietly slips under the radar, with a small cast, a simple setup, and no reliance on spectacle to carry it.

The film’s premise is straight forward. A small alien ship crash lands in the backyard of an elderly man’s home in rural Pennsylvania, and it’s only a matter of time before the government tracks it down. It’s a simple premise that we’ve seen before.

However, this is one of those examples of an old story being told in a new way, with a new twist, and doing it really well.

Jules is a film full of wonder and magic, most of which come from the main character Milton Robinson (played by Ben Kingsley) who discovers that the spaceship that crashed in his backyard has rudely smashed his azalea bushes, and someone is going to have to do something about it. When he tries to tell people about the alien, literally nobody will take him seriously, except for two elderly women who are also largely ignored by everyone in town.

You can read the review below or watch it on YouTube:

A Familiar Story, Told in a New Way
Jules is both the name of the movie and the name they give to the alien, but this is really Milt’s story. He’s a senior citizen who lives alone, doesn’t drive, and whose social life is limited to occasional visits from his daughter and his weekly walk to attend the town hall meetings where he shares the same ideas over and over again. He and the other seniors in the film, Joyce played by Jane Curtin and Sandy played by Harriet Sansom Harris, often get eye rolls from the people in the room and none of their concerns are taken seriously — especially not the spaceship.

This is a film that takes its time with the story, and it still comes in under 90 minutes, which is rare given the bloated length of films lately. What’s different here is that the scripting and editing are tight. There are no wasted scenes. Everything serves a purpose in this smartly told story, giving these seasoned actors a lot to play with in the script. As a result, the acting is superb, and there are some brilliant moments of comic timing that will having you giggling, if not outright laughing. Much of that humor comes from how seriously Milt approaches the absurdity of the situation, especially when no one around him believes what he’s seeing. It’s such a wonderfully sincere view into his life that you can’t help but to feel his sense of wonder and care for his new friend.

A Quiet Story About Aging, Friendship, and Connection
Again, this isn’t a rough and tumble action-adventure sci-fi film about aliens outrunning the government and as Jules tries to get home. The story is much smaller, much more intimate. In fact, Milt isn’t aware that the government is out there looking for Jules because when he did try to report the alien he basically got patted on the head and sent on his way. As a result, the story gets a chance to dive into the relationships between this quirky quartet of friends in wonderful and touching ways.

Jules also explores important social topics ranging from living in a society designed for younger people to managing broken relationships between parents and children, adjusting to the slow and almost imperceptible loss of your memories, and surviving the loneliness that people can get trapped in as they age. The film doesn’t treat this as a dramatic turning point, but as something that shapes how Milt experiences the world, making these small moments feel uncertain and fragile. It also explores how new relationships and new friendships can awaken a person’s sense of self through their importance to others around them.

Then there is Jules, the alien, who doesn’t speak but who finds other ways to communicate with his new trio of friends. There is a simplicity and sensitivity to Jules that creates a sense of naivete about the alien that is both true and false. I think the best way to describe Jules is honest. There is nothing deceptive about him. What you see is what you get with Jules, making him one of the most refreshing characters that I have seen in a long time. That simplicity is essential in allowing him to act as a mirror for the people around him, revealing who they are by letting us see how they respond to him.

The foursome plays off each other so well, and it presents these powerful moments of meaning that speak to our own lived experiences. As a result, we see ourselves in different parts of each of these characters, making us care about them far more deeply than you would expect.

Recommendation
It’s a beautiful story, but it’s also funny and charming. Jules is a film that I think a lot of people will enjoy, but it’s not the kind of film that will attract media attention. It’s also a film that if you go in expecting alien guns to be blazing, you will be disappointed. This is a movie about friendship and finding value in those around you.

I’m actually a bit surprised that it was made because it’s being treated like a word-of-mouth film. This is usually what studios do when they either don’t know what to do with a film, don’t believe in a film, or don’t know how to market it. So, from me to you, Jules is a wonderful film and well worth your time.

It’s a bit like On Golden Pond meets My Favorite Martian, with just a spicy dash of Men in Black for fun, all set in the middle of rural Pennsylvania. Jules is a sweet, feel good film that will leave you wanting to share it with someone, making it a perfect family and friends film that will leave you feeling like watching it again.

Jules is also a reminder that not every sci-fi movie needs to be big and splashy to feel meaningful. When you see it, be sure to let me know what you think because I think you’ll love it.

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This review was originally posted on YouTube on August 14, 2023.