Earth Girls are Easy (1988) Review

 

Earth Girls are Easy (1988)

Earth Girls are Easy follows Valerie, who’s life is turned upside down when a trio of aliens crash lands in her pool.

This is such an odd movie because it is rightfully not good at all, but in a way that makes it redeemably enjoyable. Think Encino Man but with aliens and romance. It’s about as 80s as it gets, wrapping every single stereotype of 80s culture, fashion, and music into one big cluster and to top it all off, it’s set in sunny Southern California.

The story itself is kind of cute, with the lead alien Mac saving Valerie from drowning, and gradually falling in love with her, while she struggles between her love for Mac and her ex-fiancé Ted, trying not to seem “easy” though (her words, not mine). It’s the heart within their story, along with the side adventures of the hilariously goofy Wiploc and Zeebo that makes this movie pure 80s cheese.

The special effects however are awful and look right out of a bad 3D cartoon. It draws from obvious pulp comic inspirations in the aliens but it is so poorly executed, with them just looking like colorful balls of fur that were painted right before being thrown on screen. It’s comical how bad it is. Lucky for us, they get a human makeover that is significantly better, if not a little sexier (looking at you Jeff Goldblum). I am personally very happy with the ending too, as it was looking like Mac was going to do the valiant thing and let Valerie go to be with Ted, but her changing her mind to leave with ‘dirty Mac and the boys’ (trademarking that) and being with the one she truly loved was corny, but a heartwarming payoff.

We get a star studded cast in Jim Carrey, Damon Wayons, Michael McKean, Charles Rocket, as well as Geena Davis & Jeff Goldblum, who were actually married at the time. And that chemistry shows, as they are great together on screen and make this better than just a dorky 80s comedy.

Earth Girls are Easy, directed by Julien Temple and based off the Julie Brown song of the same name, is a hilariously bad it’s good musical comedy that is as funny & silly, as it is touching, leaving me conflicted because I know I will guiltily watch this again (and again and again).

6.7/10