In 1995, Ray Santilli and Gary Shoefield (Donnelly and McPartlin) stumbled across an original film of the autopsy of an extra-terrestrial, filmed in 1947 Roswell, New Mexico, by a military cameraman (Stanton). But after borrowing from a gangster (Otto) to buy it, they're forced to re-create the footage so they can sell it to media outlets around the world. Which they do. Now, a decade later, a filmmaker (Pullman) wants to tell their story and discover the truth.

The fact that writer Davies (Johnny English) and director Campbell (Shameless) refuse to amplify either the silliness or the adventure makes the film feel remarkably truthful. In fact, it's so plausible that we find ourselves identifying with the characters, wondering what we would do in their shoes, and hoping the film gets to the bottom of it all without spoiling the mystery (which it does very cleverly). There's a freewheeling caper vibe as Ray and Gary draft in their friends to help them--coming up with something that couldn't possibly work, then hoping they'll get away with it.

Grounded performances bring these people to life in a cheerfully relaxed way. Ant and Dec abandon their TV personas to play Gary and Ray as likeable--and believable--fast-talkers, and their journey is involving and unpredictable. The scruffy bunch around them is a bundle of British comedy stock characters--Djalili's resourceful shop owner, Banks' sassy wife, Moffat's clueless nan, Oakes' gangly geek. They keep us smiling, if not laughing, throughout the film.

The whole film is engaging and cute, and it briskly moves through the lively plot. But the approach is so gentle that it's never hugely entertaining. The story lends itself to a much more energetic approach, as well as a number of sequences that would have left us laughing hysterically and/or clinging to the edge of our seats. What's here is enjoyable, but it should've been a lot more fun.

themes, language, some grisliness

31.Mar.06